Soldier killed as Army foils infiltration bid in Poonch

Arjun Sharma

Jammu, July 23

In yet another terror incident in Jammu division, a soldier was killed when terrorists fired indiscriminately from the Pakistani side during an infiltration bid along the Line of Control (LoC) in Poonch district early on Tuesday.

Gunfight between ultras, forces

Srinagar: A gunfight broke out between militants and security forces in north Kashmir’s Kupwara on Tuesday, officials said. “Security forces have established contact with terrorists near Trimukha Top, Lolab, Kupwara. Operation in progress,” the Kashmir Zone Police said in a post on ‘X’. Last week, the Army had killed two militants after an infiltration bid was foiled across the Line of Control in Keran sector of the district.

The infiltration bid took place in Battal of Krishna Ghati sector when a group of terrorists was sighted by the alert soldiers posted along LoC. After being challenged, the terrorists opened fire on the soldier injuring one of them.

An Army spokesperson said, “Alert troops foiled an infiltration bid by effectively engaging infiltrating terrorists with effective fire in the Battal area at 3 am. During the exchange of heavy fire, one soldier was injured. Operations are continuing”.

Lance Naik Subash Kumar was injured in the intense gunfight and later succumbed, they said, adding terrorists too suffered “loss”. The post-mortem has been conducted and the soldier’s body handed over to the Army, a police officer said. A search operation has been launched in the area, the officials said.

The attack comes a day after a house of a Village Defence Committee (VDC) member and Shaurya Chakra recipient Parshotam Kumar was attacked by a group of terrorists in neighbouring Rajouri district. A soldier and a civilian were injured during the attack early on Monday morning.

Jammu region has been rocked by terror attacks in most of the districts. Pakistan trained terrorists are active in Doda, Rajouri, Poonch, Reasi, Kathua and Udhampur districts of the region.

Intelligence sources informed that the spate of terror attacks might be due to two important approaching events—fifth anniversary of abrogation of Article 370 on August 5 and Independence Day on August 15.

“Pakistan, through its proxies, is trying to give a message to the world that peace has not been established even after abrogation of the special status of Jammu and Kashmir, which was bifurcated into two Union Territories on August 5, 2019,” sources informed.

There are apprehensions among the security forces regarding the dwindling intelligence network in the Jammu region. It is believed that the members of nomadic Gujjar community, who are considered to be ‘eyes and ears’ of the security forces, have been alienated due to some political decisions taken in recent times. These Gujjars move to upper reaches of Jammu region during the summer months.

Meanwhile, the Army has deployed additional forces in the mountainous regions and close to traditional infiltration routes from where Pakistan-trained terrorists enter India. Special forces of Army and SOG of J&K Police are taking part in search operations in these regions. On the other hand, Border Security Force (BSF) has also stepped up vigil along the International Border to stop infiltration across LoC.