Pakistan continues to spill Indian blood. On Tuesday, three Indian Army soldiers were martyred by terrorists backed by Pakistani troops in Machil sector of north Kashmir’s Kupwara district. The terrorists even mutilated the body of one of the martyrs, evoking a sharp response from the Indian Army.
“Three soldiers killed in action on loC in Machil. The body of one soldier was mutilated. Retribution will be heavy for this cowardly act,” said the Northern Command in a statement after the incident.
Two terrorists were killed in Bandipora district of north Kashmir in a gunfight and two Rs 2,000 denomination notes, recently introduced by India after the demonetisation drive, were recovered, compelling security forces to launch a probe.
In another incident, the Border Security Force foiled an infiltration bid along the International Border in RS Pura sector by killing one suspected militant guide who had intruded inside the Indian territory, taking advantage of the fog and thick grass, in the wee hours of Tuesday.
Swift action by a BSF jawan guarding one of the forward sentry posts prevented a possible strike by the heavily-armed terrorists who immediately retreated into Pakistani territory following the incident.
Sources said that a patrolling party of 57 Rashtriya Rifles was ambushed by terrorists backed by the Pakistan Army. Sources said that the terrorists had the full support of the Pakistan Army which carried out firing and shelling to provide them cover.
Sources said the ambush site was not less than 500 to 700 metres from the loC with the Pakistan Army firing relentlessly on the Indian posts to ensure that the militants were able to infiltrate successfully.
There have been 286 incidents of firing and shelling along the loC and the IB in J&K that have resulted in the death of 26 people, including 14 security personnel, since September 29.
Deputy Chief Minister Dr Nirmal Kumar Singh expressed anguish over the killing of the three soldiers and said that it was a cowardly act by Pakistan forces and the incident reflected the barbaric attitude of the forces on the other side of the border.
Meanwhile, two unidentified terrorists were killed in a gunfight in Hajin area of north Kashmir’s Bandipora district and their identity was being ascertained by the security forces.
The Army and Special Operations Group (SOG) of J&K Police cordoned off the area at night after a tip-off about the presence of two terrorists in a house. As the forces moved in, the militants hiding in the house opened fire. During the exchange of fire, two of the terrorists were killed. There was no report of any injuries to the security forces.
Sources said that besides the recovery of weapons from the slain terrorists, the recovery of two Rs 2,000 currency notes has baffled the security forces.
“We have begun investigating how the new currency landed into the militants’ hands,” said Senior Superintendent of Police, Bandipora, Zulfikar Azad.
The police also recovered Rs 100 notes of Rs 11,600 from the two slain militants.
Two AK rifles, one Under Barrel Grenade launcher and large quantity of war-likes stores were recovered from their possession. The two militants were suspected to be residents of Pakistan and cadre of the banned terror outfit lashkar-e-Tayyeba