Shyam Sood
Rajouri, Jan 8: Indian Army troops deployed along LoC and RR troops manning the fence in the Balakot sector in the Mendhar sub-division of Poonch district have foiled a major infiltration bid from the Satali Cheer general area and eliminated two heavily armed terrorists, reportedly Pakistani, at about 8 pm on Saturday.
Later, during a search of the area, Army recovered 1-AK 47 Rifle with two magazines and 21 rounds, 1-modified AK 56 Rifle, 1-Chinese Pistol with one magazine and five rounds, 2-Chinese hand grenades and 2-high explosive IEDs, and a mobile phone till filing of this report.
The search operation is still in progress in the area to trace, track & eliminate other terrorists if sneaked to this side of LoC along with slain terrorists who after crossing the LoC had reached near the fence.
While briefing the media at Rajouri Commander 13 Sector RR, Brig P. Acharya said: “At about 7 pm on Saturday alert troops observed suspicious movement of two infiltrators who were trying to sneak across Line of Control (LoC), in Balakot Sector. The troops on the LoC and the fence were alerted and kept observing the area,”.
At about 7.45 pm there was a loud explosion of IED triggered by the terrorists and after a few minutes our troops noticed movement near the fence and engaged the terrorists by bringing aimed fire onto them, he added.
When the firing stopped, troops on the fence & on the LoC readjusted the cordon to prevent escape of the terrorists.
“Night enabled Quadcopter and other surveillance devices were employed to keep a strict vigil on the cordoned area & deliberate search was commenced at about 2 am as the area is not only undulating with dense undergrowth but is also heavily mined,” said Brig Acharya.
“In the search so far two bodies have been recovered with weapons, magazines, ammunition, and other war-like stores” he added.
Commander Krishna Ghati (KG) Brigade, Brig R. Krishna said that on 29 December alert troops deployed along LoC in the KG sector had foiled an infiltration bid by three terrorists taking advantage of heavy rainfall.
“After being challenged by effective fire by Indian troops, all three terrorists escaped into the forest, two among them were injured. During a daylight search on the next day bags were recovered left behind by the fleeing terrorists containing warlike stores and abundant items essential for sustenance” said Brig Krishna.
Items recovered from bags include 2-Pistols with 3 magazines & 24 rounds, 30 rounds of AK-47, night vision goggles, a dagger, winter clothing, rubber gloves, and eatables etc.
These continuous disruptive attempts by terrorists and inimical forces indicate their desperate efforts to hamper the prevailing peaceful and harmonious situation and the ongoing development in the Jammu Region.
For the last few months, the Pakistan army in nexus with terrorist organisations trying to push trained terrorists from the Rajouri-Poonch districts after most of the commanders/terrorists have been eliminated by the SFs in Kashmir under operation All Out.
On November 3, alert troops foiled a major infiltration attempt from the Poonch sector and killed three terrorists and also recovered 2 AK rifles & 2 Pistols & other items.
