Army stops the infiltration of terrorists; 5 killed in Jammu Kashmir

Despite it being Ramadan, and the many appeals to cease fire from the Jammu Kashmir CM and the Union Home Ministry, the violations still continues.

5 heavily armed terrorists were killed in a gunfight with the Indian Army on Saturday when they mad an infiltration bid through the Tangdhar sector on the Line of Control (LoC) in North Kashmir.

This comes amid Centre’s decision of suspending operations against terrorists in the valley during the month of Ramzan.

Issuing a statement, Defense PRO Colonel Rajesh Kalia confirmed that an infiltration bid has been foiled in Tangdhar sector. As quoted by a media report, he also asserted that the operation against the infiltrators is going on.

 The operation was launched in the North Kashmir border area of Tanghdar, around 120 km from Srinagar.

Meanwhile, a CRPF jawan suffered grievous head injuries on Friday when a mob raising anti-India slogans pelted stones at the security forces outside Srinagar’s Jama Masjid.

The injured jawan was identified as Gurcharan Singh.

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Police said several other security personnel, including the DSP of Khanyar sub-division and SHO of  Nowhata police station, were injured as a mob of about 800 miscreants heavily pelted stones at them. They also waved Pakistani flags.

The miscreants had come out of the mosque after the Friday sermons of Mirwaiz Umar Farooq who preached about a peaceful resolution of the problem in Kashmir.

The Union Home Ministry had taken a decision to help the “peace-loving Muslims observe Ramzan in a peaceful environment”. However, it clarified that the security forces “reserve the right to retaliate if attacked or if essential to protect the lives of innocent people”.

Earlier on Friday, Chief of Army Staff, General Bipin Rawat, who has been in Jammu and Kashmir to review security situation, said that Pakistan should stop infiltration to establish peace along the border. “We want peace at borders but as you know Pakistan continuously violates ceasefire that causes loss of life and property and in such a case we have to retaliate but if Pakistan wants peace, we expect them to take initiative, which will start with them stopping infiltration,” General Rawat said.

Commending the performance of the troops in the recent successful operations, the Army chief stressed the need to maintain the extra vigil to defeat the evil designs of hostile forces and assured his full support to further strengthen the security posture.

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On May 18, the security forces foiled an infiltration bid by a group of terrorists from across the border in the Handwara area of Kupwara district.

Ceasefire Violation by Pakistan

In 9 days over 60 people were injured, including 2 minor children and 2 BSF soldiers due to shelling by Pakistan troops along the border in Jammu, Samba and Kathua in nine days. Over one lakh people have migrated from the International Border (IB). However, there has been a lull in the firing for two days.

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti on Friday asked Pakistan to ‘respect the sentiments’ associated with Ramadan and end ceasefire violations along the border. She visited the border areas of RS Pura, Samba and other places of Jammu province which have been severely hit by the cross-border shelling during the past few days.

A police spokesman said the security forces deployed there to prevent any untoward incident on the second Friday of Ramadan exercised restraint and a case has been registered by the police.