Srinagar, Aug 20: On Saturday, the Army claimed that soldiers foiled an infiltration bid of militants by killing 12 militants in the firefight. An army officer was also killed and two soldiers injured in the day-long gunfight.
“In the wee hours today, soldiers deployed on the Line of Control (defacto border between India and Pakistan) in Gurez Sector of Bandipora District in North Kashmir intercepted a group of militants trying to infiltrate from Pakistan administered Kashmir. The group was intercepted when they were trying to cross the Kishanganga River in a pneumatic boat. Kishanganga River at many places is the de-facto Line of Control between the two sides,” said Army spokesman in Srinagar Lt Col JS Brar.
He also said this is certainly a new development. “The militants were also carrying an inflatable five-man dinghy. When contacted while crossing, a heavy exchange of gunfire ensued. While they tried to come ashore, six militants were killed and they fell into the river. Six more militants were killed near the shore in a fierce encounter,” he said.
He claimed that five AK rifles, one Pistol, two boats, 50 assorted grenades, two radio sets, two compasses and one Global Positioning System besides a large quantity of war like stores were recovered from the militants.
“In this operation, we lost an officer, Lieutenant Navdeep Singh besides two soldiers sustained injuries. They have been hospitalized. 26 year old Navdeep was commissioned in March this year into the Army Ordnance Corps and was serving in 15th Battalion of the Maratha Light Infantry,” he said.
The army spokesman said the combing operation is still going on in the area.
