BAT attack repulsed by Army in Tangdhar

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, February 23

The Army on Friday claimed to have foiled a Border Action Team (BAT) attack along the Line of Control in the Tangdhar sector of the frontier Kupwara district

The BAT action was foiled a day after Inspector General, BSF, Sonali Mishra said two Pakistani soldiers were killed in Tangdhar on Wednesday in retaliatory fire. The Army said the raid at a forward post in Tangdhar was foiled on Thursday night when alert troops detected the BAT movement, which was supported by the Pakistan army.

“The Border Action Team comprising terrorists and actively supported by heavy shelling and mortar fire from multiple Pakistan posts tried to raid a forward post in Tangdhar. Alert Indian Army troops detected the movement of the BAT men who were trying to creep towards our post under the cover of heavy fire by enemy posts and effectively repulsed it, causing casualties,” an Army statement said

“The exchange of fire continued for an hour as the frustrated Pakistan army posts tried to cause damage to our posts but failed in their nefarious designs due to the tough and offensive spirit shown by our Army troops,” it added.

The Army said it was the second day in a row when the Pakistan army had tried such action in the Tangdhar sector.

The Tangdhar sector has been tense since Tuesday after BSF Constable Sunil Murmu of 124 Battalion was killed in sniper fire.

The BSF IG had yesterday said that Army and BSF were ready to tackle any situation along the LoC. “We are ready for infiltration, BAT action, standoff fire, sniping… the alertness along the LoC is always high,” she had said.