Three terrorists killed as infiltration attempt in JK’s Baramulla foiled, Pakistani army gave covering fire to infiltrators: officials

PTI

Srinagar, September 16

The Pakistan Army covered infiltrating terrorists and targeted Indian Army quadcopters during an attempt to cross the Line of Control in Baramulla district of Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday that was foiled with the death of three militants, officials said.

Addressing a press conference in Uri in north Kashmir, Brigadier PMS Dhillon said the operation in Hathlanga in Uri sector along the Line of Control was launched early on Saturday following specific inputs on infiltration attempts by Pakistan-based teams.

“We had been receiving intelligence input that Pakistani teams were trying to infiltrate Uri to destabilize peace in Jammu and Kashmir. That is why we strengthened our counterinfiltration and surveillance network,” he said.

“At 6.40 in the morning, despite bad weather, in an ambush three to four terrorists were observed trying to cross the LoC in Hathlanga area. Contact was immediately made and the shooting continued for two hours,” he added.

The officer said the army used underbarrel grenade launcher (UBGL), multiple grenade launcher (MGL) and rocket launcher to neutralize the terrorists.

“A terrorist was neutralized. The ambushers then realized that two wounded terrorists had changed their movement. At around 9:15 in the morning, the ambushers faced a second shootout that lasted approximately half an hour and ended with the neutralization of the second terrorist,” he said.

Brigadier Dhillon said the third wounded terrorist “exfiltrated” with the help of gunfire from a nearby Pakistani post.

“The Pakistani army post provided fire support for their exfiltration and fired at us. They also shot at our quadcopters. According to our estimates, the wounded terrorist died about 300 meters from the Pakistani post, in the general area. The weather is very bad, but the search continues in the area,” he said.

The officer said three Pakistani terrorists were neutralized in the operation and the bodies of the two were recovered.

“This shows how Pakistan Army is backing the terrorists and giving them full support to infiltrate. It also establishes how Pakistan Army is involved in destabilizing peace in Kashmir,” he said.

The security forces also recovered from the terrorists an AK-47 and AK-74 rifle, seven magazines, a five kilo improvised explosive device, some ammunition, a Chinese pistol and some grenades, besides Indian and Pakistani currency.

“We believe they wanted to use the improvised explosive device against some sensitive target, including the pockets of minorities or the security forces establishment,” Dhillon said.

The infiltration attempt and subsequent encounter come at a time when an operation is underway in Anantnag district to neutralize the terrorists who have taken up positions in the forest area in a hilly terrain. The shooting entered its fourth day on Saturday.

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