Op Machil: This was The Second Largest Infiltration bid Along the LoC this Year
Captain Ashutosh Kumar, 18 Madras lost his lives with 2 soldiers named Naik Praveen, Sepoy Maheshwar & 1 BSF personnel named Constable Sudip at Macchil, Kupwara along the LoC.
At about 0100h BSF patrol noticed suspicious movement near the Anti Infiltration Obstacle System (AIOS) (LoC Fence), about 3.5 KM from the LoC. A firefight ensued in which one terrorist was killed. A BSF soldier was Killed in Action (KIA). Firefight stopped at 0400h. More troops were rushed to the area. The terrorist movement was tracked by surveillance devices.
Contact was re-established at 1020h when the heavy fire was drawn by own search parties approximately 1.5 km from the LoC. In the ensuing firefight, two more terrorists were killed. Own troops suffered three KIA and two injured. Injured soldiers have been evacuated.
At the time of going to press, the anti-terror operation was still underway. A top Army official said the terrorists had attempted to cross the LoC in two large groups under the cover of fire from Pakistani forces, adding that some could still be hiding near the border.
This was the second largest infiltration bid along the LoC this year. On March 31, five heavily armed terrorists and as many soldiers were killed in Keran sector of Kupwara.
The top Army official said Pakistan is trying to push more and more armed terrorists into the Valley before the onset of winter and the closure of mountain passes. He said around 250 terrorists are ready to infiltrate the border from Pakistan’s launching pads.
As per open sources, a huge quantity of arms and ammunition including assault two rifles, two magazines and 60 rounds, a pistol 1 with two magazines, and 29 rounds besides a radio set were recovered from the slain militants.
