STATE TIMES NEWS
Kupwara: Security forces killed five heavily armed foreign terrorists along the Line of Control (LoC) in Kupwara district on Friday and said it was the “biggest” infiltration bid to have been foiled since 2021, when India and Pakistan effected a ceasefire understanding.
The operation in the Jumagund area in the Keran sector was launched Thursday night based on intelligence input gathered by the Jammu and Kashmir Police.
A police spokesperson said the encounter lasted for several hours, during which terrorists unleashed heavy gunfire, but the joint forces maintained utmost vigilance and perseverance which resulted in neutralisation of all five foreign terrorists. The identification of the killed terrorists is being ascertained.
ADGP Kashmir, Vijay Kumar said that this group was affiliated to JKGF (JK Ghaznavi Force) which has Rafiq Nai and Shamsher Nai alias Zafar Iqbal, both residents of Poonch, presently settled in POJK as handlers and Murtaza Pathan alias Ghaznvi, resident of Faisalabad, Pakistan, an Afghan veteran affiliated with Deoband school of thought as operational commander supervising tactical aspect from POJK.
ADGP Kashmir also appreciated the role of joint forces for neutralizing the terrorists without any collateral damage. He also appreciated the joint teams for displaying the highest degree of synergy and coordination which led to the elimination of five foreign terrorists and averted a big threat for forthcoming yatra.
Srinagar-based Defence PRO Col Emron Musavi said the terror groups in Pakistan are using the “facade” of ceasefire to perpetrate terror in the Union territory.
Briefing the media here, the general officer commanding of the army’s 28 Division, Major General Girish Kalia, said that based on the input, multiple ambushes were set up along the expected routes of infiltration.
“Simultaneously, the entire area, the LoC fence or the anti-infiltration obstacle system (AIOS), was kept under surveillance,” he said.
Around midnight, the movement of terrorists was picked up by the alert troops who braved challenging terrain and weather conditions.
“The infiltrating terrorists were engaged with precise and accurate fire, and in the ensuing firefight, five unidentified terrorists were neutralised,” Maj Gen Kalia said, adding there was no collateral damage.
He said the terrorists were heavily armed and appeared to be very well trained.
During a search of the site Friday morning, a large amount of arms and ammunition, including five AK series rifles, 15 magazines and grenades, and equipment such as night vision devices and binoculars were recovered, he said.
Maj Gen Kalia said while there is a ceasefire understanding between India and Pakistan, the security forces have been getting a large number of intelligence inputs of likely infiltration from across the LoC in the recent past.
The army commander said the operation is a reflection of the high level of synergy between the Indian Army and the Jammu and Kashmir Police who have been working tirelessly to ensure that “our beloved J-K remains peaceful and continues to progress on the path of development and prosperity”.
He complimented the officers and jawans who took part in the operation, and assured everyone that the security forces shall remain steadfast in our resolve to defeat the evil designs of inimical elements”.
Meanwhile, Col Musavi, in a statement, said the terror groups in Pakistan are using the “facade” of ceasefire to perpetrate terror in Jammu and Kashmir.
“The operation clearly establishes the evil design of terrorist groups which are determined to disrupt peace in Kashmir. It also exposes the facade of false commitment to the ceasefire understanding by Pakistan which has repeatedly been exploited to perpetrate terror in Jammu and Kashmir,” the PRO said.