SRINAGAR: Four militants were killed after police and army foiled a major infiltration bid along the Line of Control (LoC) in Machil village in Kupwara on Friday.
The militants were neutralised in a joint operation by police and the army in the Kala Jungle area of Kupwara’s Machil sector.
Confirming the development, Kashmir Zone Police tweeted, “In a joint operation, army and police have killed four terrorists in Kala Jungle of Machhal sector in Kupwara who were trying to infiltrate to our side from POJK (Pakistan occupied Jammu and Kashmir).”
Addressing a news conference Vinod Negi Brigadier Machil confirmed killing four infiltrators. “ A huge amount of ammunition and the war-like store were recovered from the militants. The recovery indicated that there are regular attempts to disrupt the peace and prosperity in the region,” he said, adding narcotics were also recovered from the slain.
“The successful operation is an example of the professionalism of both the Army and Jammu and Kashmir police,” the Brigadier said. “There are attempts regularly to push militants into this side.”
A Police spokesperson in a statement said that in a joint operation launched by Army (21 Mahar) and Kupwara Police, they successfully foiled the infiltration bid of militants.
It said, “11 militants were killed in joint operations by police and army in three separate encounters along LoC this month so far. Police employed meticulous tactics to intercept the militants who fired indiscriminately upon the joint teams.”
“The fire was retaliated, leading to the elimination of four heavily armed unidentified terrorists. The joint party demonstrated exceptional professionalism, courage, and strategic planning during the operation,” it said.
“The neutralized militants were found to be heavily armed, equipped with sophisticated weaponry and narcotics which indicates their malicious intent to carry out disruptive activities aimed at causing harm to innocent civilians. The identification and affiliation of the killed militants is being ascertained,,” it added.
The timely and effective response by Army and Police have foiled their plans and a significant threat to peace and stability in the area was neutralized.
Police said they have filed a case under relevant sections of law and further investigation is in progress. “Extensive search of the area is being carried out and further details if any will be shared accordingly,” police added.
ADGP Kashmir Vijay Kumar hailed the exceptional bravery, professionalism, and strategic planning exhibited by the joint team of Army and Police during the operation.
“Their coordinated efforts, meticulous execution and swift response resulted in the neutralization of four unidentified terrorists, effectively averting a potential threat to the region’s safety & security and saving the future of youth from the drug abuse,” he said.
Kumar added that the successful operation is a big blow to the narco-funding and other terror plans of the terrorists.
Concerned Commanding Officer (CO) Puneet Chauhan who was part of the operation said that on the intervening night of June 22 and 22, movement was detected in the general area of dense Kala forests.
The army said that they recovered nine AK series rifles with 14 magazines and 228 rounds, four grenades, and three pistols with five magazines. Also, 55 packets of narcotics were recovered from them.
“The recovery of large amounts of war-like stores including substantial narcotics material to be used for terror funding indicates the vicious plan of Pakistan by utilising the terrorists to derail the existing peace in Kashmir,” the army said in a statement.
“This successful operation is a big blow to the Narco funding & terror plans of the terrorists,” it said.—(KNO)
