SRINAGAR: Five heavily armed infiltrating militants were killed along Line of Control in Kupwara, the army said on Friday.
Briefing the media about the killing of five foreign militants in Kupwara’s Jumagand, Major General Girish Kalia General Officer Commanding (GoC) 28 Vajr Division said that five heavily armed and trained militants trying to infiltrate this side of the Line of Control were killed in a joint operation and it was the biggest infiltration bid to have been foiled since 2021.
He said that after getting inputs about the infiltration of militants, they laid multiple ambushes on the routes of infiltration on June 15.
“The entire area close to Anti Infiltration Obstacle System (AIOS) was kept under surveillance. On the intervening night of Thursday -Friday (15-16) movement of a group of militants was observed by the alert troops a firefight ensued,” he added.
In the firefight, the GoC said that five heavily armed and trained militants were killed without any collateral damage.
According to the army officer, the anti-militancy operation lasted for the entire night. “Early morning, searches were conducted in the entire area and they recovered 5-AK rifles, 15 magazines, ammunition, night vision devices, and other warlike stores.”
GoC Kalia said that the operation is the reflection of synergy between the Army and Police. “We are working together. We will ensure that Jammu and Kashmir remains heading towards the path of peace and prosperity.” The GoC was flanked by the Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Police North Kashmir Vivek Gupta, SSP Kupwara Yougal Manhas, Brigadier Tapas Mishra and the Concerned CO B S Shishodia
A Srinagar based Chinar Corps Spokesperson in a statement said that identity of the terrorists and their outfit is being ascertained.
“The operation clearly establishes the evil design of militant groups which are determined to disrupt peace in Kashmir. It also exposes the facade of false commitment to the ceasefire understanding by Pakistan which has repeatedly been exploited to perpetrate terror in Jammu and Kashmir,” the statement said.
It also said that the security forces stand steadfast to defeat the nefarious designs of inimical elements to disrupt peace and harmony in Kashmir.
A police spokesman in a statement said that in a successful operation launched after a specific input generated by Kupwara Police, an infiltration bid by foreign terrorists has been foiled in Jamugund Keran sector near Line of Control (LoC) in Kupwara district by the joint team of Army and J&K Police. “The operation resulted in the neutralization of five heavily armed foreign militants. Acting on the credible intelligence input about infiltration by terrorists, joint party of Army & J&K Police launched a swift and well-coordinated operation in Jamugund area near LoC of Kupwara,” the police statement said, adding that “The terrorists were intercepted and engaged in a fierce gun battle, in which the joint party of Army & J&K Police displayed exceptional courage and professionalism.”
The police statement said that the encounter lasted for several hours, during which terrorists unleashed heavy gunfire, but the joint forces maintained utmost vigilance and perseverance which resulted in neutralisation of all five foreign terrorists. “The identification of the killed terrorists is being ascertained,” it read.
Meanwhile, ADGP Kashmir (Vijay Kumar) said that the the group was affiliated to JKGF (JK Ghaznavi Force) which has Rafiq Nai and Shamsher Nai alias Zafar Iqbal, both R/O Poonch presently settled in PoJK as handlers and Murtaza Pathan alias Ghaznvi, R/O Faislabad, Pakistan, an Afgan veteran affiliated with Deoband school of thought as operational commander supervising tactical aspect from PoJK.
Police said that arms and ammunition including 5 AK series rifles, 15 magazines, 10 hand grenades, 3 binoculars, 1 night vision device and 600 rounds of AK 47 have been recovered from the site of encounter. “All the recovered materials have been taken into case records for further investigation. Police have registered a case under relevant sections of law and investigation initiated,” it said, adding that ADGP Kashmir also appreciated the role of joint forces for neutralizing the terrorists without any collateral damage.
“He also appreciated the joint teams for displaying highest degree of synergy and coordination which led to the elimination of 05 foreign terrorists & averted a big threat for forthcoming yatra,” he said—(KNO)
