M A I N   N E W S

Infiltration bids foiled

Srinagar, October 22
Twelve persons, including 10 militants, were killed while security forces foiled two infiltration bids from across Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir in the past 24 hours, an official spokesman said today.

Elsewhere in the state, security forces arrested six militants and seized arms and ammunition. Militants damaged a railway bridge on the Qazigund-Baramula section.

Security forces foiled an infiltration bid in the Uri sector last evening and they gunned down three Pakistani intruders.

Troops noticed suspicious movement along LoC at Limber Gali near Boniyar in the Uri sector yesterday and challenged them. Militants opened fire on the troops which was retaliated.

In the encounter, three infiltrators were killed, the spokesman said, adding three AK rifles, nine AK magazines, 64 rounds of AK ammunitions, two hand grenades, one GPS and other war-like stores were seized from them, the spokesman added.

Troops foiled another infiltration bid in Kanzalwan area of Gurez sector in north Kashmir’s Baramula district yesterday and killed two intruders after they crossed LoC from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). Two AK rifles and other arms and ammunition were seized from the slain intruders.

Two more militants were killed by troops at Muthal Tahab in the Machil sector of Kupwara district last evening.

Four infiltrators were killed yesterday as gun-battle raged on for several days because of heavy snowfall in the area.

Five AK rifles, 14 magazines, two pistols, two pistol magazines, 23 hand grenades, four wireless sets, one GPS, one wire cutter, one Nokia mobile without a SIM card, 349 rounds and Rs 1,550 in Pakistani currency were seized from the slain ultras, he added.

A senior security force official said about 5000 militants were waiting across the border to sneak into this side before the infiltration routes get closed due to heavy snowfall on high mountain peaks. However, he said security forces guarding the border were alert to foil any attempt by militants.

Security forces also shot dead a militant in an encounter at Nagreb Bagh village in Baramula district last evening.

A child was killed when suspected ultras exploded a device at Mohalla Zargar near the Kishtwar police station in Doda district of Jammu region yesterday.

Troops arrested Maqbool Ahmad Dar of Mohandpora in central Kashmir district of Badgam. He was being kept at the Kanidajan Army camp for questioning. Dar developed some health problem yesterday and was rushed to an Army camp at Qasba Nagam for medical aid.

However, Dar died before any medical aid could be given to him.

Moreover, security forces gunned down two militants, including a former SPO and a Hizbul Mujahideen section commander, at Mislie forest area of the Doda district last evening. An AK rifle, one magazine, two grenades and seven rounds were seized from the encounter site.

Security forces also apprehended a militant in a search operation at Yaripora village in Anantnag district yesterday.

On his tip off, five more ultras were arrested and 6 kg of RDX, three electric detonators, two electric circuits and four UBGL grenades were seized from them.

Apart from that, security forces seized one pistol with magazine, one AK magazine, 15 hand grenades, nine IED circuits, nine IED batteries, two sealed boxes containing 7.6 mm cartridges, two wireless sets and about 1100 rounds in a search at Khadiyan forest in the Keran sector of north Kashmir’s Kupwara district last night. — UNI