In the last 48-hours, the army has foiled multiple infiltration bids on the Line of Control (LoC) in which seven militants were killed while a soldier also lost his life.
Army said the infiltrators were backed by the Pakistan army in Uri, Nowgam, Gurez and Machil sectors.
The latest of the four bids was thwarted in Naugam sector in Kupwara in which three militants were killed after they were sneaked in under the cover of darkness last night.
Militants opened fire when they were challenged by the army. In the ensuing encounter, three militants were killed. The army said it recovered warlike stores from the militants.
On Tuesday night, a major infiltration attempt was foiled in Machil sector in Kupwara in which four militants were killed.
Army spokesman Colonel N.N. Joshi said army units deployed along the LoC have foiled multiple attempts by Pakistan army to push armed infiltrators into Kashmir.
“Operations are in progress at Machhil, Naugam, and Uri sectors,” said Colonel Joshi. “The armed intruder groups were being provided active support including covering fire (heavy caliber artillery) by Pakistan army posts on the LoC to assist them in infiltration into the Kashmir Valley.”
This year 22 infiltration attempts have been foiled in which 34 armed intruders have been killed along the LoC.
“Relentless operations by security forces have defeated desperate attempts by Pakistan and its agents to spread terror in Jammu and Kashmir during the holy month of Ramzan,'' Joshi said.
Sources said the Pakistan army is exploiting gaps on the LoC created by the melting of snow. Army Chief Bipin Rawat recently warned that Pakistan will try to push militants into Kashmir in summers.
Rawat recently visited the LoC and interacted with the officers and soldiers guarding the dangerous border.
Army sources said the spurt in infiltration has happened after the killing of several top militants in Kashmir including Hizbul Mujahideen commander Sabzar Ahmed Bhat on May 27 at Rathsuana in Tral.
Army sources also believe the urgency on part of Pakistan to sneak in more militant could be to reinforce the militant cadres under pressure from security forces.
The ongoing unrest in Kashmir is being seen as another motivation for Pakistan to send more militants into Kashmir.
What has alarmed the security forces is the infiltration from routes like Gurez in Baramulla.
In the last week of May, army had foiled attempts by border action teams to target soldiers guarding the border.
