(Updating earlier copy)
Jammu (NVI): Four defence personnel including 1 BSF jawan were killed in an encounter along LoC in Machil sector of Kupwara district in J&K, defence officials said today. Three terrorists were also eliminated by the forces in the action.
At around 1 AM, BSF patrol noticed suspicious movement near the Anti Infiltration Obstacle System (AIOS) (LoC Fence), about 3.5 km from the LoC, the Army said in a statement. “Firefight ensued in which one terrorist was killed. A BSF soldier was Killed in action (KIA). Firefight stopped at 0400h,” read the official statement.
More troops were rushed to the spot as terrorists’ movement was tracked by surveillance devices.
Contact was re-established at 10:20 am in the morning when own search parties came under heavy enemy fire approximately 1.5 km from the LoC.
In the ensuing firefight two more terrorists were killed. “Own troops suffered three KIA and two injured. Injured soldiers have been evacuated. Ops in progress,” the Army said.
One AK-47 rifle and two bags were also recovered from the site of encounter.
Earlier in September, the Border Security Force (BSF) had foiled two infiltration bids along the International Border (IB) in Samba sector of Jammu and Kashmir.
Last month, the Army had said that at least 250 to 300 militants are ready to infiltrate into this side of LoC before snowfall but the counter-infiltration grid is robust and soldiers are ready to foil all such bids.
General officer Commanding (GoC) of north Kashmir based Kilo Force, Major General HS Sahi, while speaking to media on October 22, had said that the Army is getting continuous inputs about the presence of 250 to 300 militants at the launch pads who are ready to sneak into this side to foment trouble.
It may be recalled that recently, General officer Commanding (GoC) of Srinagar-based Army’s 15 Corps, Lieutenant General B S Raju had said that this year so far, Army has been successful in foiling infiltration along the LoC. He had stated that only 30 militants had managed to infiltrate into this side compared to 126 last year from January to October 1.
-ARK
