Srinagar, Sept 24: Five militants were killed as alert troops foiled yet another infiltration bid from Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (POK) at the Line of Control (LoC) in Tangdhar sector in the frontier district of Kupwara.
A soldier was also martyred during the exchange of fire.
Defence Ministry spokesman Col Rajesh Kalia on Monday told UNI that troops noticed a group of militants sneaking into this side from POK on Sunday. However, when challenged and asked to surrender, militants opened fire with automatic weapons, he said, adding troops also retaliated ensuing an encounter.
But, he said, militants escaped from the area. Later a massive Cordon and Search Operation (CASO) was launched during which contact with the militants was established. “Two militants were killed in initial exchange of fire,” he said.
However, Col Kalia said that due to darkness, the operation was suspended late on Sunday night only to be resumed with the first light of Monday morning.
Fresh contact was again established on Monday morning with militants, he said, adding three more infiltrators were killed in the exchange of fire. “A soldier was also martyred in the encounter,” he said.
“Massive search operation was still going on in the woods when the reports last came in,” he added.
A large number of militants are waiting at launch pads on the LoC to sneak into this side before the infiltration routes are closed due to snowfall.
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