Two militants were killed close to the Line of Control (LoC) in north Kashmir’s Kupwara district on Wednesday. Meanwhile, militants shot dead a Forest Department employee and injured another in central Kashmir’s Pulwama district.
A Srinagar-based Army spokesman, personnel of the Army, Border Security Forces and Jammu and Kashmir Police jointly planned multiple ambushes near the LoC following the intelligence inputs about likely infiltration through Macchal Sector in Kupwara.
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“On the intervening night of July 18-19, around 11 p.m. troops detected suspicious movement along the LoC. Around 04:55 a.m., a contact was established with the terrorists. An intense firefight ensued, resulting in the elimination of two foreign terrorists,” the Army said.
Four AK series rifles, one under-barrel grenade launcher (UBGL), five UBGL grenades, nine magazines, 175 AK rounds, six hand grenades, tactical vests and a large quantity of war-like stores were recovered from the slain militants.
The identity of terrorists is being ascertained, the Army said. “This successful counter infiltration operation is yet another example of exemplary synergy between the security forces. It is also an indicator of repeated attempts by terrorist groups to push terrorists and warlike stores into Jammu and Kashmir to disturb the prevailing peace, development and growth in the Union Territory,” the Army added.
The latest killings of two militants close to the LoC have taken the toll to eight in the past three days in three separate anti-militancy operations in J&K.
“This [Wednesday’s] successful operation not only foiled the infiltration attempt but also dealt a severe blow to the plans of terrorists to disrupt peace and stability in the valley,” Additional Director General of Police Vijay Kumar said.
In a separate incident, militants opened fire upon a team of Forest Department in Pulwama in south Kashmir and left two employees injured. One of the injured later succumbed to his injuries.
“The incident took place when a checkpoint was laid by the Forest Department to apprehend timber smugglers near the Bangender Bridge in Pulwama’s Rajpora.
One injured, Imran Yousaf Wani, who had a bullet injury to the thigh, succumbed to his injuries at the Shri Maharaja Hari Singh Hospital, Srinagar. Another injured forest employee, identified as Jahangir Ahmed Chechi, Forester, sustained minor injuries in the militant attack and “was discharged after the first aid”.
“During the search of the crime scene, two empty fired cartridges of AK-47 ammunition and one bullet head were recovered from the spot,” the police said.
