Four infiltrators killed in Kashmir, arms seized

Srinagar, July 2 (UNI) 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 foreign Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) militants 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 troops which was effectively retaliated, the spokesman added.

In the ensuing gunfight, he said four infiltrators, all foreigners and belonging to the Pakistan-based JeM militant outfit, were killed.

The spokesman said four AK-56 rifles, 290 rounds and 16 hand grenades were seized from the possession of the slain ultras.

Sources said the infiltration bid was made in the Gulmarg sector.

This was the third infiltration attempt foiled by troops in the past one 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.

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

More than 30 infiltrators have been killed in northern Kashmir immediately after they crossed the LoC from PoK in the recent past.

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 AG MSJ BD1630