Soldier killed during infiltration attempt

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, July 23

An Army jawan was killed in a gunfight in north Kashmir’s Kupwara district while foiling an infiltration attempt last night.

The attempt to sneak into the Valley was made three days after Army Chief Gen Dalbir Singh asked soldiers to be on alert as Pakistan might push in more militants due to the current situation.

The infiltration bid was foiled in the Keran sector in Kupwara district, around 130 km from Srinagar, when the Army intercepted a group of militants close to the Line of Control during Friday night.

“Militants attempted to infiltrate and were intercepted by alert soldiers at night. They were challenged and they started firing, which led to exchange fire, forcing the infiltrators back,” said defence sources.

“In the firefight that ensued, one soldier sustained a gunshot wound, to which he unfortunately succumbed later,” the sources further said.

The identity of the slain solider could not be ascertained immediately. The sources said a search operation was continuing in the area.

There had been a spurt in infiltration this year. Government figures said 54 militants had infiltrated till the end of June while 35 had infiltrated last year.