Five infiltrators killed in north Kashmir

Srinagar, Oct 21 (UNI) Security forces foiled two infiltration bids in north Kashmir since last evening when they gunned down five armed Pakistani intruders near the Line of Control (LoC), official sources said today.

A report from Baramulla said that security forces noticed some suspicious movement near the LoC at Limber near Boniyar in Uri sector in the early hours today.

When the intruders reached a particular place, the security forces challenged them and asked to surrender.

However, they opened fire, which was retaliated and in the ensuing encounter three militants were killed, sources said, adding some arms and ammunition were also seized from them.

In another infiltration bid in Gurez sector the Border Security Forces (BSF) killed two intruders immediately when they crossed the line of control from Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK) last evening.

A BSF spokesman said troops guarding the LoC noticed a group of three militants sneaking into this side from PoK in Gurez sector.

When challenged and asked to surrender near Karma post on this side of the LoC, militants opened fire. The fire was returned and the exchange of fire continued for about two-hours.

Later, during the search of the area bodies of two militants were found. Two AK rifles and other arms and ammunition were seized from the slain infiltrators.

A senior security force official said that more than 1500 militants are waiting across the border to sneak into this side before the infiltration routes are closed due to snowfall.

However, he said, security forces guarding the border are alert to foil any such infiltration attempt by the militants.

More than 50 militants have so far been killed by the security forces immediately after they sneaked into this side from POK since January this year.

A number of ex-filtration attempts were also foiled by the security forces and state police. About 60 Kashmiri youths were arrested before they could sneak into PoK by the security forces and police after they were being forcibly recruited by different outfits in the valley during the past six months.

UNI BAS YA BD1751