Srinagar: The massive anti-infiltration operation launched by the Indian Army entered in its 14th day on Monday, with the security forces currently locked in heavy gunbattle with terrorists trying to cross over from Pakistan into the Indian side of the border.
According to reports, the Indian Army is believed retaliating to the infiltrators who are constantly firing at Indian posts in Keran Sector along the Line of Control (LoC) in Kashmir.
The Indian Army has so far been successful in keeping the infiltrators at bay since the operation began nearly two weeks ago.
The entire area has been cordoned off and massive search operation is also on to locate and lush out Pakistan-backed infiltrators.
Top Army officials have confirmed that there has been a massive infiltration attempt in the Shala Batu village. They ave said that 30 to 40 terrorists backed by the Pakistani Army have infiltrated into Keran.
Earlier, the Army had also foiled infiltration attempts at Gujjardur and Fateh Gali near Shala Batu. On Sunday, two Army Generals visited the Keran sector and took stock of the ground situation.
"General Officer Commanding in Chief, Northern Command, Lt Gen Sanjiv Chachra and General Officer Commanding of the 15 Corps Lt Gen Gurmit Singh have visited the area to review the situation on ground," Officiating Brigadier General Staff (BGS) Colonel Sanjay Mitra said.
Meanwhile, the Pakistan High Commissioner to India Salman Bashir on Sunday slammed the reports of his Army's involvement in Keran incursions along LoC as baseless.
Speaking on the alleged involvement of Pakistan in Karen infiltrations, Salman Bashir said that the reports were “baseless”.
Seeking to defend Pakistan, Bashir said, “Militancy & terrorism had has affected us directly… instead of pointing finger at us, look at casualties we have suffered”.
According to defence sources, "The operation is still in progress. No fresh casualties have been reported on either side so far."
Intermittent firing between the group of holed up infiltrating militants and the Army continued throughout the day on Sunday as security forces maintained a tight vigil over the cordoned off area.
The Army launched a massive anti-infiltration operation in Shalbhatti village in Keran Sector on September 24 after noticing a group of 30 to 40 militants trying to sneak into the Valley.
The operation is going on in a vast area along the LoC and so far seven militants have been killed - three in Gujjardoor village on Friday and four in Fateh Gali area of the sector yesterday.
Earlier, the Army had said 10-12 militants were believed to have been killed in Shalbhatti village but the bodies could not be retrieved as the operation against the remaining militants was in progress.
Five soldiers have been injured in gunbattle. The Army has termed as "absurd" the reports about capture of some posts by the infiltrators, saying the troops are in total control of the operation.
"We are in total control of the operation. The reports of our posts being captured by the infiltrators are absurd," General Officer Commanding of the Army's 15 Corps Lt General Gurmit Singh has said.
The Army had on Saturday foiled an infiltration bid in close vicinity to the ongoing Keran operation after a 2-hour gunbattle with the terrorists.
Four terrorists had been killed in the incident and six AK 47 rifles, 4 pistols and other warlike ammunitions had been recovered from the terrorists.
A ceasefire violation on international border in Hiranagar area of Samba sector had also taken place on Thursday where the Pakistan rangers targeted the Pahadpur post of BSF.
The BSF fired in retaliation and foiled the infiltration bid. In Poonch too, the Pakistani troops had opened fire on the Indian posts on Thursday.
Indian troops guarding the border had retaliated with the same calibre weaponry, which had resulted in a 20 minute gunbattle.
Meanwhile, the External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid said that the government cannot say anything till the Army completes its investigation into the matter.
"Till the Army completes its investigation and informs us about their findings, we cannot say anything. That could end up causing a problem to the Armed forces.
"The Armed forces are executing their duties effectively. Once they submit their report to us, we will inform you about it," Khurshid said.
According to reports, the Indian Army is believed retaliating to the infiltrators who are constantly firing at Indian posts in Keran Sector along the Line of Control (LoC) in Kashmir.
The Indian Army has so far been successful in keeping the infiltrators at bay since the operation began nearly two weeks ago.
The entire area has been cordoned off and massive search operation is also on to locate and lush out Pakistan-backed infiltrators.
Top Army officials have confirmed that there has been a massive infiltration attempt in the Shala Batu village. They ave said that 30 to 40 terrorists backed by the Pakistani Army have infiltrated into Keran.
Earlier, the Army had also foiled infiltration attempts at Gujjardur and Fateh Gali near Shala Batu. On Sunday, two Army Generals visited the Keran sector and took stock of the ground situation.
"General Officer Commanding in Chief, Northern Command, Lt Gen Sanjiv Chachra and General Officer Commanding of the 15 Corps Lt Gen Gurmit Singh have visited the area to review the situation on ground," Officiating Brigadier General Staff (BGS) Colonel Sanjay Mitra said.
Meanwhile, the Pakistan High Commissioner to India Salman Bashir on Sunday slammed the reports of his Army's involvement in Keran incursions along LoC as baseless.
Speaking on the alleged involvement of Pakistan in Karen infiltrations, Salman Bashir said that the reports were “baseless”.
Seeking to defend Pakistan, Bashir said, “Militancy & terrorism had has affected us directly… instead of pointing finger at us, look at casualties we have suffered”.
According to defence sources, "The operation is still in progress. No fresh casualties have been reported on either side so far."
Intermittent firing between the group of holed up infiltrating militants and the Army continued throughout the day on Sunday as security forces maintained a tight vigil over the cordoned off area.
The operation is going on in a vast area along the LoC and so far seven militants have been killed - three in Gujjardoor village on Friday and four in Fateh Gali area of the sector yesterday.
Earlier, the Army had said 10-12 militants were believed to have been killed in Shalbhatti village but the bodies could not be retrieved as the operation against the remaining militants was in progress.
Five soldiers have been injured in gunbattle. The Army has termed as "absurd" the reports about capture of some posts by the infiltrators, saying the troops are in total control of the operation.
"We are in total control of the operation. The reports of our posts being captured by the infiltrators are absurd," General Officer Commanding of the Army's 15 Corps Lt General Gurmit Singh has said.
The Army had on Saturday foiled an infiltration bid in close vicinity to the ongoing Keran operation after a 2-hour gunbattle with the terrorists.
Four terrorists had been killed in the incident and six AK 47 rifles, 4 pistols and other warlike ammunitions had been recovered from the terrorists.
A ceasefire violation on international border in Hiranagar area of Samba sector had also taken place on Thursday where the Pakistan rangers targeted the Pahadpur post of BSF.
The BSF fired in retaliation and foiled the infiltration bid. In Poonch too, the Pakistani troops had opened fire on the Indian posts on Thursday.
Indian troops guarding the border had retaliated with the same calibre weaponry, which had resulted in a 20 minute gunbattle.
Meanwhile, the External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid said that the government cannot say anything till the Army completes its investigation into the matter.
"Till the Army completes its investigation and informs us about their findings, we cannot say anything. That could end up causing a problem to the Armed forces.
"The Armed forces are executing their duties effectively. Once they submit their report to us, we will inform you about it," Khurshid said.
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