Four infiltrators killed in Kashmir

Srinagar, July 2: Two days after eight infiltrators were killed near the Line of Control (LoC) in Kupwara district, troops foiled yet another incursion bid today when they killed four intruders in Baramulla district of North kashmir, an Army spokesman said.

He said the alert troops noticed a heavily-armed group of infiltrators sneaking into the Indian side from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) in Baramulla district at 0400 hrs.

On being challenged, the intruders opened fire on the troops which was effectively retaliated, the spokesman added.

He said in the ensuing gunfight, four infiltrators were killed.

The spokesman said the operation was still on when reports last came in.

This is the third infiltration attempt foiled by troops in a week.

Earlier, on June 30 eight infiltrators were killed near the LoC in the Keran sector of north Kashmir's Kupwara district.

Eight AK-47 rifles, 29 magazines, 478 rounds, 28 hand grenades and five radio sets besides large quantity of food items were seized from the possession of the slain intruders.

Earlier, on the intervening night of June 25-26, the troops had foiled a major incursion bid when they gunned down four militants in the Machil sector of Kupwara district.

Official sources said these slain militants were part of a 14-member group which had infiltrated from PoK.

More than 20 infiltrators were killed by the troops in northern Kashmir immediately after they sneaked into this side from PoK once the snow started melting on the upper reaches.

Officials said more than 2000 militants, majority of them Kashmiris, were waiting across the LoC to infiltrate into India.

Militants have also made several attempts to smuggle in arms and ammunition from across the border.

However, due to tight security measures, they (militants) dumped arms and ammunition near the border in specially-built hide-outs.

Security forces have busted a number of such hide-outs and seized war-like stores, comprising assault rifles, hundreds of grenades, rockets and explosive material, including the deadly RDX.

UNI