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Tariq Bhat
Tariq Bhat

JAMMU AND KASHMIR

Five JeM militants killed as Army foils infiltration bid

PTI1_15_2018_000239B Army personnel take positions towards the spot where five Jaish-e-Muhammad militants were killed during a gun fight at Uri near LoC | PTI

Five Jaish-e-Muhammad militants were killed by Army at Dulanja on Monday after they crossed river Jhelum in the portable inflatable boats.

The five militants, who had allegedly come with an aim to carry out a fidayeen attack against security forces, were detected while they were crossing the river.

Soon after they crossed the river the alert soldiers opened fire and pinned the infiltrators down. Four were killed as soldiers rained fire on them. The fifth was felled while trying to flee back.   

Brigadier Y.S. Ahlawat, commander of Army’s 12 Brigade in Uri, said by foiling the infiltration attempt, a major tragedy has been averted.

“The infiltration bid was made in the intervening night of January 14 and 15 along the river Jhelum,'' he said. ''Alert soldiers picked up the movement as the terrorists were moving along the banks of Jhelum.

“Their movement was tracked as they were crossing the Jhelum in a boat towards own side.”

After neutralising the threat, the bodies of four fidayeen were recovered while the fifth body was lying across Jhelum on the banks near the boat.

Four AK 47 rifles, three Under Barrel Grenade Launcher (UBGL), 38 UBGL grenades, 23 hand grenades, nine IEDs and other warlike items were recovered from the group.

The Army has raised vigil along the entire LoC in view of reports of possible strikes by militants and Border Action Teams of  Pakistan Army in the run-up to Republic Day.

“So we were quite alert and we knew something like this is bound to happen,'' Ahlawat said. ''That is why the alert troops could pick up the movement of the terrorists.''

He said the successful operation highlighted the resolve of Army to give a befitting reply to the enemy.

Police confirmed the killed JeM militants were part of a fidayeen squad.  “Five bodies recovered sixth being searched,” tweeted Dr SP Vaid, director general of police.

The use of portable that can be deflated after crossing the river is the new technique being adopted by the militants to infiltrate into Kashmir.

Police sources said the five fidayeen could have been reinforcements for JeM which has lost around 10 members from the group of around 20 who succeeded in infiltrating into Kashmir last summer.

Most of the attacks have been carried out in Kashmir by the members of the same group.

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