Security forces foiled another infiltration bid in North Kashmir’s Kupwara district on Saturday after a group of infiltrators was intercepted and three militants killed in a prolonged gun-battle. The encounter started at 3 am when security forces, manning the line of Control (loC), detected suspicious movements.
This is the third encounter along the loC during the past fortnight in North Kashmir. Eight infiltrators and three soldiers have been killed in these gun-battles, which indicate to the volatility across the dividing line as infiltration-prone summer season proceeds. Spokesman of Srinagar-based XV Corps Col Brijesh Pandey said that the encounter was continuing till late on the Saturday afternoon. “Three infiltrators have been killed so far”, Pandey said.
Sources said Army challenged a group of around 4 to 5 militants in Tutmar Gali area of Kupwara who were trying to sneak in. The militants opened fire which was retaliated, triggering a fierce encounter that resulted into death of three militants. This is the first infiltration attempt through Tutmar Gali of Nowgam sector this year and third in the North Kashmir area. In the last week of May, two encounters in Tangdhar sector led to death of five militants and three soldiers. On May 31, four infiltrators were killed while on May 25, three soldiers and one militant had been killed.
Security observers say that infiltration in Kashmir peaks up during summer months. Hundreds of heavily armed militants are awaiting orders of their outfits to sneak into Kashmir valley to sustain anti-India insurgency. The army maintains that the security forces are well-equipped to tackle the infiltration threat.