Baramulla/July, 11 : Inputs about possible militant attack in north Kashmir have been received and a high level of alert is being maintained by the troops to foil all such bids, General officer Commanding (GoC) of Baramulla based army’s 19 infantry division Major General Virender Vats said Saturday.
He also said that a major infiltration bid was foiled today at Nowgam sector in Kupwara district in which two militants were killed from whose possession Indian and Pakistani currency worth Rs 1.5 lakh besides arms and ammunition was recovered.
Addressing a press conference, at Baramulla, GoC of 19 Infantry division, Major General Vats, said that ever since India announced the August 5 decision, Pakistan is trying hard to push more and more militants into the valley, an attempt to instigate the people which they have failed to do for long now.
“Launchpads across the line of control are fully occupied by militants and as per our guess, some 250 to 300 militants are ready to infiltrate,” the army officer said.
About Saturday morning’s operation at Nowgam sector, he said two heavily armed militants were killed along the Line of Control in Nowgam sector appropriate response by troops on ground was taken against the militants who were trying to infiltrate in the area by cutting the anti-infiltration fence and were dressed in combat fatigues had taken the route through Pakistani posts in the area opposite which clearly indicates that Pakistan is pushing militants in India.
The timely action ensured the killing of two heavily armed militants and in addition to the food and medicines we have recovered around 1.5 lakh Indian and Pakistani currency from them and search operations are still underway to sanitize the area.
This infiltration attempt follows similar attempts made in Rajouri and Kupwara sectors in recent past and needs to be seen in backdrop of various inputs about presence of militants on launch pads across the LoC, fully facilitated and supported by Pakistani army.
“Indian army remains fully committed to maintain the sanctity of line of control and any trance movement will get similar or appropriate response the dagger on its part is ready along LoC,” he said. “In the coming three to four months, infiltration may go up and troops are alert to foil all such bids.
Talking about Saturday’s recovery and their possible attempt of carrying out a Fidayeen attack, attack in the valley, he said the recovery is two AK 47 riffles, 350 rounds including the arms and ammunition and some electronic switches as well having militants two in number intending to carry out a particular strike. Asked about possibility of militant strike in north Kashmir, he said they have received inputs and an alert is being maintained to foil all bids.
On militancy status in north Kashmir, he said that north Kashmir has quite different dynamics than that of south Kashmir, as the people here have largely “discarded the militancy narrative” and the militants have not got any sort of attraction is all because the people have rejected it
