Srinagar, July 15: A day after security forces foiled a major infiltration bid in the Keran sector of Kupwara and killed three terrorists, Army on Monday stated that their primary aim was to infiltrate and carry out sabotage and subversive activities, specifically targeting normalcy and the Shri Amarnathji Yatra.
Addressing the joint press conference in Putha Khan Gali, in Kupwara, Commander of the 268th Infantry Brigade, Keran Sector, Brigadier NR Kulkarni, said they had received intelligence inputs of terrorists trying to disturb normalcy in the area.
“We had intelligence inputs, primarily of terrorists trying to infiltrate and carry out sabotage and subversive activities in the hinterland with the view to disturb normalcy in general, and the Shri Amarnathji Yatra in particular,” he said.
Briefing the details, Brigadier Kulkarni said that on the intervening night of 13 & 14 July 2024, acting on credible inputs, multiple ambushes were laid along the route of infiltration.
“On 14 July, the ambush teams observed movement of three terrorists through thick foliage, on own side of LoC. The infiltrating terrorists were challenged resulting in intense firefight,” he said.
The Army officer said there was specific input given by our intelligence that a mixed group of foreign terrorists was likely to infiltrate through the Keran Sector, leveraging dense cover of forest and thick undergrowth along the nallahs.
“Accordingly, multiple ambushes were jointly laid by the Army, BSF, and JKP on the appreciated routes of infiltration and besides this. We were maintaining surveillance of the entire area,” he said.
Brigadier Kulkarni said that taking advantage of the thick foliage and poor visibility, the terrorists sneaked across the LOC and started moving towards the fence.
“These terrorists were heavily armed, well-trained, and equipped with sophisticated weaponry. In the intense fire-fight, three foreign terrorists were neutralized in the area,” he added.
A detailed search of the area was subsequently carried out, which led to the recovery of large quantities of war-like stores. All the recovered materials have been taken into case records for further investigation,” the Army officer said.
This was the 3rd possible infiltration bid along LoC in Kashmir this year so far. During the winter season when the snow sets in, infiltration attempts go down and pick up once the snow starts to melt and passes open up.
On June 22, the army foiled an infiltration attempt in the Bajrang area of north Kashmir’s Uri sector. Earlier, on May 16, two unidentified terrorists were killed along the LoC in the Tangdhar Sector of Kupwara.
