Infiltration bid foiled on LoC in Rajouri, one terrorist dead

Heavy retaliation as Pak shells Poonch, Kupwara

JAMMU: The security forces foiled an infiltration bid killing one of the militants of a heavily armed group trying to enter the Indian Territory along the Line of Control in Rajouri district, even as Indian troops retaliated strongly to heavy firing and mortar shelling in forward areas in the neighbouring Poonch district as well as in Kupwara district.
“A militant was killed when a group of five militants tried to sneak into this side of the fence opposite to Kalal area of Nowshehra sector of Rajouri district,” security officials said on Tuesday.
The official sources informed that a movement of five militants was seen in Samhani Bagsar area opposite to Kalal in Nowshera sector of Rajouri district.
"The movement was well intercepted before militants could have managed to reach LoC and were engaged in exchange of fire,” official sources said.
“As the militants ran for cover from heavy Indian firing, one of the infiltrators stepped over a land mine or an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) and died on the spot. The body of the slain militant was taken along by his four associates who returned back to the launch pad,” the sources said.
They said that the group of militants was possibly a fidayeen (suicide) squad and were heavily armed.
"Since the incident, searches are going on in the area for to ensure proper area dominance,” the sources said.
Meanwhile, the Pakistan army resorted to heavy firing and mortar shelling in forward areas along the Line of Control in Poonch district, prompting Indian troops to retaliate effectively.
The ceasefire was violated by Pakistan for the eighth consecutive day on Tuesday, officials said, adding that there have been more than 20 incidents of ceasefire violation by Pakistan troops in the last more than a week.
"At about 1000 (10 am) hours today (Tuesday), Pakistan Army initiated unprovoked ceasefire violation by firing with small arms and intense shelling with mortars along LoC in Degwar and Qasba sectors of district Poonch," a defence spokesperson said.
The Indian Army is retaliating befittingly, he added.
Pakistan troops had shelled forward areas of Mankote and Mendhar sectors of Poonch district and resorted to firing along the International Border (IB) in Hirangar sector of Kathua district on Monday resulting in injuries to an animal and damage to a house, they said.
Pakistani troops had shelled areas along the LoC in Rajouri and Poonch districts on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday last week as well as on Monday in Balakote, Subderbani, Nowshera, Qasba, Kirni, Mendhar, Mankote, Degwar, Krishnagati and Hiranagar sector of Kathua district.
Reports coming late in the evening said that Pakistani troops violated ceasefire along the Line of Control (LoC) in Kupwara district as well, by resorting to unprovoked firing towards Indian positions on Tuesday, an Army official said.
There have been no reports of any casualties so far.
"Pakistan initiated an unprovoked ceasefire violation (CFV) along the LoC in Macchil and Gugaldara sectors in Kupwara in the afternoon hours by firing mortars and other weapons," the official said.
A befitting response was given to the Pakistani aggression, he said.