2 Pakistani militants shot near LoC in Rajouri

Two Pakistani terrorists trying to sneak into this side of the Line of Control (LoC) in Nowshera sector of Jammu and Kashmir’s Rajouri district were on Monday morning eliminated after their movement was detected by soldiers guarding the border.

A US-made M4 carbine, two AK-47 rifles and a pistol, among other arms and ammunition, were recovered when the Army launched a search operation with the first light of the day. The soldiers were able to detect the incoming terrorists with the help of night vision devices.

Jammu-based Army’s White Knight Corps, in a statement, said that following intelligence inputs, an anti-infiltration operation was launched by the Army on the intervening night of Sunday and Monday in Nowshera’s Lam area. “Two AK-47, an M4 rifle, one pistol, eight grenades, assorted ammunition, personal clothing and miscellaneous war-like stores have been recovered. Surveillance is being maintained and operations are in progress,” the Army said.

While the Army noticed two terrorists sneaking towards the border fence, it is believed either a third militant retreated leaving behind his rifle or the slain duo were carrying the weapon for another terrorist already present in the Indian territory.

The recovery of the US-made M4 rifle has raised questions over the number of weapons that might have gone into the hands of terrorists after the exit of US forces from Afghanistan. M4 rifles have been time and again used by terrorists, especially during ambushing security personnel in the Jammu region.

Lt Col Suneel Bartwal, an Army spokesperson, said intelligence inputs were being received since August 30 about the presence of terrorists opposite the Nowshera sector. “All likely infiltration routes were kept under surveillance. Ground-based and aerial surveillance assets were deployed. Area domination patrols were also conducted with greater frequency. On Sunday night, surveillance teams detected suspicious movement of a few individuals… An intense firefight ensued when they were challenged. The gunfight ended in the elimination of two terrorists,” he said.