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Two Militants Killed, Six Others Escape Back to Pakistan

By Fayaz Wani

The Indian army today claimed to have foiled a second infiltration bid by militants in as many days, killing two militants along the frontier with Pakistan in Jammu province. Six others managed to escape back into Pakistani territory

An Indian army officer, while giving details of the incident said that army soldiers guarding the frontier with Pakistan at Salotri, Poonch noticed a group of eight militants trying to infiltrate into this side of the Line of Control (LoC) from across the border. "The militants were signaled to stop and lay down weapons. However, the militants turned down the offer and fired automatic weapons at the security personnel. The fire was returned by the soldiers and in the ensuing gunfight, which lasted for nearly three hours, two militants were killed," the army officer said.

He said that during the course of the gunfight, six militants managed to escape back to Pakistani territory.

He said two AK rifles and some ammunition were recovered from the encounter site.

Meanwhile, an Indian army spokesperson in Srinagar claimed today that huge cache of arms and ammunitions were recovered from the possession of eight Afghani militants who were killed in a fierce gunfight along the frontier with Pakistan yesterday. The recovery, according to the army officer, includes 08 AK-47, 16 AK Magazines, 345 rounds of AK-47 ammunition, 03 hand grenades, 01 radio set Thuraya, 1 GPS, 1 medical kit, burnt Pakistani and Indian Currency and a marked map.

He said that after the infiltration attempt by a large group of militants, surveillance along the frontier with Pakistan has been further beefed up. "The strength of soldiers on the frontiers has also been increased", he added.

Fayaz Wani reports on life in Srinagar, Kashmir.