M A I N   N E W S

Infiltration bid foiled

Srinagar, July 1
The Army today foiled a Pakistan-backed intrusion bid in the Kupwara sector killing two militants and asserted that infiltration across the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir was going on in spite of Islamabad’s promises to stop it.

The infiltration bid, assisted and supported by the Pakistan army, was foiled by troops deployed in Kupwara sector early this morning, an Army spokesman said.

An ambush party in Keran sector, deployed about 400 metres on the Indian side of LoC, detected the movement of terrorists, he said adding that a fierce gunbattle ensued in which two terrorists were killed and a large quantity of “war-like” material was recovered.

“Pakistan army assisted and supported this infiltration by resorting to heavy unprovoked shelling of posts along the LoC in the area of infiltration,” he said in New Delhi.

“Seen in conjunction with the two earlier infiltration bids in Poonch sector during the last one week and in view of the fact that for every infiltration bid foiled or detected, three to four others go undetected, it is evident that infiltration across the LoC goes on in spite of Pakistan’s promises to stop it,” he added.

JAMMU: Two persons, including an Army personnel, were killed and two securitymen injured in separate incidents in Rajouri and Doda districts of Jammu division since last night, official sources said here today.

Militants ambushed a patrol party at Darhal in Rajouri district last night. One security personnel was killed and two others injured in the ensuing firing, sources said, adding reinforcements were rushed to the area to track down the militants.

In another incident the police today recovered the body of a civilian Prem Singh in forest area in Doda. He was kidnapped a few days back, the sources said.

A four-year-old girl was killed in Pakistani firing as intermittent exchange of fire between Indian and Pakistani troops continued in R S Pura sector along international border in Jammu division since yesterday, official sources said today.

The girl, identified as Boli, was killed when a bullet fired from across IB hit her in Herbanwali-Jora area, they said.

Low intensity exchange of fire continued in Hiranagar, R S Pura, Samba, Ramgarh, Arnia and Kanachak sectors since yesterday evening, sources said. Pakistan troops also fired two mortar shells in Nikowal area of R S Pura sector last night without causing any damage on the Indian side.

They said earlier Pakistani troops fired four mortar shells in Arnia sector and another in Pansar village of Hiranagar sector. However, these did not cause any damage as they exploded in isolated areas.

There were also reports of exchange of small arms firing at a few places along the Line of Control in Rajouri and Poonch districts since yesterday evening, they said. PTI