Pakistan-backed terror outfits may well have successfully executed one of the biggest infiltration attempts in recent times in North Kashmir’s Kupwara region a few days ago. This has been revealed in a very specific alert issued by intelligence agencies to security forces, including the Army.
It is believed, the alert further points out, that as many as 20 militants may have crossed over in one go into North Kashmir. Highly placed security sources claimed that the recent fierce encounter in Kupwara, in which two militants and three Army personnel were killed, was carried out after this specific alert only. The security forces were cautioned that the militants after crossing over were camping in dense jungles of Kupwara.
Sources said the combing operations were still on to flush out the remaining militants. Security along the Line of Control and International Border is at an all time high during this time of the year as militants try and launch maximum militants from across the border before passes close due to snow.
With number of militants in the Kashmir Valley dwindling fast militant groups are constantly seeking more reinforcements from across the border.
With intelligence agencies having already warned the border guarding forces that militants were waiting in large numbers at launching pads along the border to cross over a serious note has been taken of this recent infiltration bid.
“No doubt that this is one of the biggest infiltrations in recent months. Though it could not be stopped but what needs to be appreciated is that our security forces zeroed down on them in no time once they were in our territory and engaged them in a fierce encounter. But one needs to be extremely careful now that the winter is setting in and more such attempts will be in the offing,” a senior security official said.
Sources claimed that at a recent high level security review meeting held in Srinagar in which top officials from various intelligence and security outfits participated there was a view that in case infiltration is completely checked before winter it will “almost wipe out violence from the Valley.”
“The militants don’t have the numbers now. They neither have men nor ammunition. So we can choke them completely during winter and the results will be seen in summer next year,” the official added.