Attempts will be made to push ultras across LOC: Army

SRINAGAR: Terming the killing of five heavily-armed militants in north Kashmir as a "major success," the Army today said there will be attempts from across the Line of Control ( LoC) to push in more ultras into the Valley to fill the void.

"We have eliminated 10 militants over the recent days and it has created a void among the militant ranks. There will be attempts from the other side during the coming months to fill it," General officer Commanding of Army's 15 Corps Lt General S A Hasnain told reporters at Handwara in Kupwara district, 90 kms from here.

Lt Gen Hasnain was briefing the media about the successful counter-insurgency operation in Zachaldara forests yesterday in which five unidentified militants were killed.

On March 28, five Lashker-e-Toiba militants were eliminated in nearby Rajwar forests.

Meanwhile, searches at the scene of the encounter at Zachaldara yielded a large quantity of arms and ammunition, including five AK assault rifles, 17 magazines, 350 rounds, five hand grenades, one radio set, two GPS devices, two mobile chargers and two diaries.

The army commander dismissed suggestions that the slain militants were infiltrators, saying they were active in local area.

He said the group was probably in the area to receive infiltrators and guide them into the hinterland of the Valley.