Four militants crossing LoC killed in Machil: Police

KUPWARA — Four militants were killed after police and army foiled a major infiltration bid along the Line of Control (LoC) in Machil village in Kupwara on Friday.

Addressing a news conference, Vinod Negi Brigadier Machil Brigade, as per the news agency KNO, confirmed the killing of four infiltrators. He said that a huge amount of ammunition and the war-like store were recovered from the militants.

“The recovery indicated that there are regular attempts to disrupt the peace and prosperity in the region,” he said, adding narcotics were also recovered from the slain.

“The successful operation is an example of the professionalism of both the Army and Jammu and Kashmir Police,” the Brigadier said. “There are attempts regularly to push militants into this side.”

He said that security forces will foil any attempt to disturb the peace.

A police spokesperson said that in a joint operation launched by Army (21 Mahar) and Kupwara Police, they successfully foiled the infiltration bid of militants. He said that 11 militants were killed in joint operations by police and the army in three separate encounters along LoC this month so far.

Police said that they employed meticulous tactics to intercept the terrorists who fired indiscriminately upon the joint teams. “The fire was retaliated, leading to the elimination of four heavily armed unidentified terrorists. The joint party demonstrated exceptional professionalism, courage, and strategic planning during the operation,” it said.

The identification and affiliation of the killed militants are being ascertained, it added.

“The neutralized terrorists were found to be heavily armed, equipped with sophisticated weaponry and narcotics which indicates their malicious intent to carry out disruptive activities aimed at causing harm to innocent civilians,” it added.

The timely and effective response by Army and Police have foiled their plans and a significant threat to peace and stability in the area was neutralized.

Police said they have filed a case under relevant sections of law and further investigation is in progress. “Extensive search of the area is being carried out and further details if any will be shared accordingly,” police added.

ADGP Kashmir Vijay Kumar hailed the exceptional bravery, professionalism, and strategic planning exhibited by the joint team of Army and Police during the operation.

“Their coordinated efforts, meticulous execution and swift response resulted in the neutralization of four unidentified terrorists, effectively averting a potential threat to the region’s safety & security and saving the future of youth from drug abuse,” he said.

The ADGP Kashmir acknowledged the relentless dedication of the joint forces in safeguarding the nation against terrorism. Kumar added that the successful operation is a “big blow to the narco-funding and other terror plans of the terrorists”.

Concerned Commanding Officer (CO) Puneet Chauhan, who was part of the operation, said that on the intervening night of June 22 and 22, the movement was detected in the general area of dense Kala forests.

The army said that they recovered nine AK series rifles with 14 magazines and 228 rounds, four grenades, and three pistols with five magazines. Also, 55 packets of narcotics were recovered from them.

Army said that the “recovery of large amounts of war-like stores including substantial narcotics material to be used for terror funding indicates the vicious plan of Pakistan by utilising the terrorists to derail the existing peace in Kashmir”.

“This successful operation is a big blow to the narco funding & terror plans of the terrorists,” it said in a statement.