Troops foil infiltration bid, 2 militants killed, CASO launched at LoC in north Kashmir

Srinagar, Jul 11: Alert troops foiled a major infiltration bid from Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (POK) on Saturday when they killed two heavily armed militants immediately after they sneaked into this side at Line of Control (LoC) in the frontier district of Kupwara in north Kashmir, official sources said.
Official sources said that troops guarding the LoC at TMG post in Naugam sector, Handwara in Kupwara noticed a group of militants sneaking into this side under the cover of darkness early this morning from POK. However, alert troops laid an ambush and asked militants to surrender who opened indiscriminate firing with automatic weapons.
Troops also retaliated ensuing in an encounter, they said adding later when firing stopped two bodies of militants were found in the area. Two AK rifles and other arms and ammunition were recovered from the slain militants, believed to be foreigners.
Sources said troops of nearby camps were also put on alert and a massive Cordon and Search Operation (CASO) was launched in the dense forest area near LoC, sources said adding there could be some militants hiding in the woods.
The operation was going on when the reports last came in, they said adding a large number of trained and heavily armed militants are waiting at launch pads to sneak into this side before the infiltration routes are closed due to snowfall.
However, they said, troops already are on high alert to foil any infiltration bid by militants from POK. Sources further said latest gadgets are being used to spot the militants in border areas.
Meanwhile, Director General of Police (DGP) Dilbagh Singh and senior Army officers have recently said that Pakistani troops are violating ceasefire to help militants at launch pads to infiltrate into this side. However, Mr Singh said majority infiltration bids were foiled resulting in killing of militants at the LoC. But, he admitted some militants had managed to sneak into this side.