6 militants managed to sneak in; Army accuses Pak of ceasefire violation
Anubhav Misri, SK Nazki, NAK,
Mendhar/Poonch : A group of at least six militants have reportedly managed to sneak into this side of border from Krishna Ghati sector of Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch district, where a solider lost his life and two others sustained injuries, early on Monday morning.
Army on the other hand gave two different versions of the incidents. It was maintaining that the infiltration bid was foiled and militants were pushed back to Pakistan and simultaneously sources, preferring anonymity, in Jammu claimed that it was an incident of ceasefire violation by Pakistan Rangers.
The incident took place when the foreign secretaries of two sides are meeting in Islamabad on Tuesday to take decision on some important issues including cross-border trade.
A senior army officer, preferring anonymity, told News Agency of Kashmir that troops of 2/8 Gorkha Rifles foiled an infiltration bid by a group of militants in Mendhar sector of Poonch district.
He said that troops noticed a group of armed militants trying to cut the fence wire in an attempt to cross over to this side. “However, the troops foiled the infiltration bid and in the ensuing encounter which lasted for about half and hour one solider lost his life”.
On the other hand army in Jammu claimed that Pakistan Rangers opened unprovoked small arms fire on Dhip Posts in Mendhar sector at around 8 AM today.
The Pak soldiers also used Under Barrel Grenades (UBGs) and Rocket Propelled Grenades (RPG) to attack the Indian post, sources said adding, one solider, identified as Naik Jayeshwar of 2/8 Gorkha Rifles, lost his life, they added.
Unofficial sources told News Agency of Kashmir that two more soldiers sustained splinter injuries and were shifted to Military hospital Poonch.
Confirming the incident Defence Spokesman Lt Col SD Goswami told NAK that firing started at around 8 AM and lasted for more than fifteen minutes. “The vigil has been tightened all across the border in view of the fresh infiltration threats”, he added.
However, intelligence sources monitoring the Line of Control, have another story to tell. They said that a group of at least six militants managed to sneak into this side of border near Kranti Post at Jullhas area of Krishna Ghati Sector.
Soon after the infiltration, the militants were ambushed by an army patrol party and an encounter started at around 7:45 AM. The encounter lasted for more than four hours, in which one solider lost his life, while two others sustained injuries.
The sources told NAK that militants managed to escape from the spot and have vanished in the thick forest belt of Krishna Ghati sector, which links Poonch to Valley and Gool in Ramban district.
Sources maintained that it was the seventh infiltration from the same point. Earlier also militants have managed to cross the border and sneak into this side from the same point, they added.
This is the third time in last about ten days when Indian army has accused Pakistan of violating ceasefire agreement along the border. Earlier, a group of militants allegedly backed by Pakistan army intruded into this side of border from Samba sector in Jammu, which was followed by another incident of ceasefire violation in Tangdhar sector of North Kashmir.