Sofi Anayat
Srinagar, July 11 (KNS): General Officer Commanding (GOC) 19 Division Major General Virendra Vats Saturday said that Pakistan has failed to instigate people of Kashmir after August 5, 2019 and added that intelligence inputs indicate that 250-300 militants are currently present at several launching pads across LoC in Pak Occupied Kashmir (POK) to infiltrate into this part of Kashmir.

According to Kashmir News Service (KNS), GOC while talking in a presser in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district said that Pakistan has failed to instigate people of Kashmir after August 5, 2019 and is desperate in ensuring entry of heavily armed militants into this side of Kashmir.

“After abrogation of Article 370 on August 5, 2019 Pakistan has utterly failed to instigate people of Kashmir to violence and it is why it resorts continuous infiltration attempts from past months which however were foiled by Army with appropriate response”, GOC said.

He said that if intelligence inputs are to be believed there are around 250-300 trained militants eagerly waiting for infiltration in order to foment trouble in Valley. “Intelligence inputs indicate that around 300 trained militants are currently present at launch pads across the Line of Control (LoC) in POK and making desperate attempt to infiltrate into this side so that they will create unrest and instigate people to violence”, Army officer said.

When asked about the fresh infiltration bid happened in Nowgam sector of Kupwara district, he said, “In early hours of Saturday, our troops along LoC in Nowgam Sector detected suspicious movement originating from Pakistani posts in the area.

Appropriate action by troops on ground was taken to eliminate the two militants who were trying to infiltrate into our area by cutting the Anti-Infiltration Fence”.

GOC said, “The heavily armed militants who were dressed in combat fatigues had taken the route through Pakistan Army posts deployed opposite, which clearly indicates Pakistan complicity and abetment to fomenting terror in India”.

“Action of troops was precise and timely, thereby ensuring a clean operation during which two heavily armed militants were neutralized”, GOC said and
He said army recovered huge cache of arms and ammunition from slain militants which includes 02-AK assault rifles with 12 filled magazines, 01 Pisaol with 02 magazines, 04 grenades and radio-sets. In addition, large quantity of food items, medicines and Rs 1.48 lakhs in Indian and Pakistani currency.

GOC said that the search operations are still underway in the sector to sanitize the area.

“This infiltration attempt follows similar attempts made by Pakistan in Kupwara and Rajouri sectors in recent past and needs to be seen in the backdrop of various inputs about increased presence of militants in the launch pads across the Line of Control, fully facilitated and supported by Pakistan army.

Indian Army remains fully committed to maintain the sanctity of Line of Control and any trans LC movement shall meet similar or appropriate response”, GOC said. (KNS)