SRINAGAR: In an attempt to cross the Line of Control in the Baramulla area of Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday that was thwarted with the deaths of three militants, the Pakistan Army provided cover fire to infiltrating terrorists and targeted quadcopters of the Indian Army, officials claimed. Brigadier P M S Dhillon said the operation at Hathlanga in the Uri sector along the LoC was started early Saturday on specific intelligence about infiltration efforts by Pakistan-based outfits while speaking at a press conference in Uri, north Kashmir. “We had received intelligence reports that Pakistani groups were attempting to enter Uri in order to undermine the stability of the peace in Jammu and Kashmir.As a result, we made our surveillance and counter-infiltration grid stronger,” he stated. “Despite the terrible weather, an ambush this morning at 6:40 a.m. observed three to four terrorists attempting to cross the LoC in the Hathlanga area. “Contact was made right away, and the firefight went on for two hours,” he added. The officer said that to neutralise the terrorists, the army employed rocket launchers, multi-grenade launchers, and under-barrel grenade launchers (UBGL). “We neutralised one terrorist. Two wounded terrorists had altered their course, the ambush party later realised. Around 9.15 am, the ambush party engaged in a second gunfight with them, which lasted for around 30 minutes and led to the neutralisation of the second terrorist, he claimed. The third wounded terrorist, according to Brigadier Dhillon, “exfiltrated” with the aid of gunfire from a neighbouring Pakistani station. “His exfiltration received fire support from a Pakistani Army station, which also fired at us. They also fired at our quadcopters. Our calculations indicate that the wounded terrorist passed away in the general vicinity, roughly 300 metres away from the Pakistani position. The search is still going on despite the terrible weather, he said. The officer claimed that during the operation, three terrorists from Pakistan were neutralised, and the bodies of the other two had been recovered. “This demonstrates how the Pakistan Army supports terrorists and gives them unrestricted access to infiltrate. It also demonstrates the Pakistan Army’s role in undermining Kashmir’s stability, the man claimed.The security forces also seized from the terrorists Indian and Pakistani money, an AK-47 and an AK-74 rifle, seven magazines, a five-kg IED, some ammunition, a Chinese pistol, and several grenades. According to Dhillon, “We believe they intended to use the IED at some sensitive target, including a pocket of minorities or a security forces facility.” The attempt at infiltration and the ensuing encounter occur as part of an operation in the Anantnag district to eliminate terrorists who had set up camp in a forested area with hills as their terrain. On Saturday, the gunfight’s fourth day began.
