Infiltration bid foiled; five militants killed

SRINAGAR: Army today killed five heavily-armed militants while they were trying to sneak in from the Pakistani side, thus foiling a major infiltration bid in Gurez sector of Kashmir.

"Five terrorists were eliminated by the Army while they were trying to infiltrate across the LoC in Gurez sector. The alert soldiers thus effectively foiled the infiltration bid," Srinagar-based Defence spokesman Lt Col N N Joshi said.

Giving details of the operation, he said first contact with the infiltrators was established late night just as they crossed the LoC (Line of Control).

They were challenged and an intense gunfight ensued, resulting in elimination of two militants.

The rest took cover behind the rocks and bushes, he said, adding after an operation by the Army which lasted till this afternoon, three more terrorists were eliminated, taking the number of eliminated terrorists to five.

Joshi said a huge cache of "war-like" stores of arms and ammunition was recovered from them. It included five AK-47 rifles, a Rocket Projectile Gun (RPG) and an Under Barrel Grenade Launcher (UBGL).

"The Army is continuing to search and sanitise the area to ensure safety and security of the people," he said.

The identity of the slain militants and their group has not been ascertained so far, the spokesman said.