Soldier injured In Baramulla Gunfight, Ops on
Suhail Khan
SRINAGAR, Oct 26: Security forces foiled a major infiltration attempt by militants along the Line of Control (LoC) in Tangdhar sector of north Kashmir’s Kupwara district in the wee hours of Wednesday.
An official told Kashmir Despatch that based on specific information from the police, corroborated by other intelligence agencies regarding the infiltration of a group of the LeT militants through Forward Sudpura in Karnah tehsil of Kupwara district, a joint operation was launched by security forces.
The officer said: “Alert troops on anti-infiltration grid intercepted two militants trying to infiltrate into their own side in the forward area close to the Line of Control. Around 1:45 AM on Wednesday, the infiltrating militants were fired upon, leading to the elimination of one militant,” the officer said.
However, taking advantage of darkness, the other militant managed to flee to Pakistan Occupied Kashmir, the officer added.
Meanwhile, PRO army said that the eliminated militant has been identified as Mohammed Shakur, son of Yakub (32) a resident of Syedpura in PoJK.
He said continued engagements along the Line of Control are uncanny reminders of efforts by Pakistan to infuse terrorism in Kashmir and disrupt peace and harmony while putting on the facade of ceasefire understanding.
Youth in PoJK are being used as cannon fodder by Pakistan state policy from the last three decades with a fruitless aim to constantly disrupt progress towards collective peace, the PRO said.
Handing over counter-insurgency and counter-infiltration to J-K Police is seen as a long-term solution by top Army officials to exert dominance over Kashmir.
He said J&K Police should remain at the forefront of the law and order situation against the militancy and security forces working jointly in a coordinated manner.
As the Army has been rebalancing and realigning its forces to counter the Chinese threat from the northern borders, J&K Police are now joining the Army in counter-infiltration operations along the LoC in north Kashmir.
In May, J&K Police joined the Army in counter-infiltration operations and killed five militants in three separate gunfights.
On May 26, three Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) militants and an Army porter were killed after a joint team of police and the Army foiled an infiltration attempt of militants at Jumagund village near the LoC of Kupwara.
Nonetheless, authorities have decided to arm J&K Police officers with American 500 Sig Sauer 716 assault rifles and 100 Sig Sauer MPX 9mm pistols.
A police officer also confirmed this development to Kashmir Despatch and said incriminating materials and arms and ammunition, including 01 AK-47 rifle (short), 02 AK-47 Magazines, 01 Pistol (9mm), 02 Pistol Magazines, 9mm 45 rounds, 02 Chinese Grenades, Pakistani Currency, Identity Card etc. have been recovered from the possession of slain militant.
Meanwhile, an army trooper was injured after a gunfight broke out between militants and security forces in Sheeri Chandoosa area of North Kashmir’s Baramulla district on Wednesday.
An official told Kashmir Despatch that in the initial exchange of fire, one army trooper received a bullet wound in the leg and was later shifted to MI hospital Srinagar for advanced treatment. The operation in the area was on when this report was being filed.
Suhail Khan is a filmmaker, content writer, and freelance journalist.
