2 militants killed in Keran were foreign ultras: Indian Army

Srinagar, July 19

The Indian Army said today that the two hardcore militants killed on Thursday after an infiltration bid was foiled across the Line of Control in the Keran sector of Kashmir were ‘foreign’ miltiants.

Meanwhile, sources said that an Austrian assault rifle, the Steyr AUG, was recovered from the slain militants, along with other ammunition.

A Srinagar-based Defence spokesman said in a statement that they eliminated “two terrorists attempting to infiltrate across the Line of Control.”

Third infiltration bid

This was the third such successful anti-infiltration operation on the Line of Control over the past few weeks. —Defence spokesman

He said on July 17, credible input was received from the Jammu and Kashmir Police and further corroborated by intelligence agencies, “regarding a group of foreign terrorists likely to infiltrate through the Keran sector.”

He said a day later, alert troops observed the movement of two terrorists through thick foliage, on the Indian side of LoC.

“The infiltrating terrorists were challenged, following which they opened fire, leading to an intense firefight. Two hard core foreign terrorists were killed along with the recovery of weapons, war like stores and a Pakistani identity card,” the spokesperson said.

According to the Army, this successful intelligence-based operation has proved to be yet another example of the close synergy between the Indian Army, Border Security Force and Jammu and Kashmir Police.

“This was the third such successful anti-infiltration operation on the Line of Control over the last few weeks and underscores the Indian Army’s unwavering commitment to maintain the sanctity of the Line of Control and the robust counter infiltration posture towards maintaining peace in Kashmir Valley,” the spokesperson said.