Infiltration increases, so do gun battles

SRINAGAR: Increased militant infiltration from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) in the last few months is fuelling fierce gun battles between the army and the ultras in border areas of Kashmir.

In the last 24 hours, 10 militants and two soldiers have been killed in various gun battles in the border district of Kupwara. Six top militants and two soldiers were killed in a fierce encounter in the Lolab valley on Friday.

Army spokesman Lt Col AK Mathur said on Friday 18 and 28 Rashtriya Rifles troops cordoned off the valley following specific information and launched operations. "In the morning, the troops established contact with the ultras. In the fierce gun battle that followed, all the six ultras hiding there were gunned down. We also lost two soldiers," said Mathur.

The slain soldiers have been identified as rifleman Raj Pal Singh and signalman Adi Naryanan of 18 RR.

"We recovered a huge cache of arms and ammunition from the slain," Mathur said.
Three militants were killed in another encounter at Sonapidi, Kularoos, near the line of control in Kupwara district.

Vijay Kumar, superintendent of police, Kupwara, said, "Initially, two militants were killed in the encounter that began on Thursday. Later, we recovered the body of one more militant."

Kumar said another militant was killed in Gund Manchhar in Kupwara. "On receiving specific information, a joint team of police and 2-PARA eliminated an unidentified militant at Gund Manchher," he said.

The SP, Kupwara, said the encounters had increased due to the rise in infiltration from PoK. "Most militants killed had infiltrated Kashmir recently," he said.

source : http://www.dnaindia.com

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