Major infiltration bid foiled, 3 militants killed in Gurez

Srinagar: Alert troops on Wednesday foiled a major infiltration bid from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), gunning down three heavily armed militants in Gurez sector at north Kashmir district of Bandipora, official sources said.The operation was going on in the forest near the Line of Control (LoC), when the reports last came in, they added.

Sources said the Pakistani troops resorted to unprovoked and indiscriminate shelling and firing from across the LoC in Gurez sector, to provide cover to the militants, to sneak into this side from Baktur area early this morning, under the cover of darkness.

However, alert troops challenged the infiltration and asked them to surrender, they said, adding that militants resorted to indiscriminate firing with automatic weapons. 

The fire was returned and in the initial encounter, two militants were killed. Later, one more infiltrator was gunned down, they said, adding that additional security forces from nearby camps were rushed to conduct search operation in the dense forest.

The operation was going on, when the reports last came in, they said, adding that a large number of militants are waiting at launch pads in PoK to sneak into this side, before the infiltration routes are closed due to snowfall.However, troops guarding the LoC are already on high alert to foil any infiltration bid, they said.(UNI)