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Firing between Army and militants at LoC following infiltration bid

There were no casualties on the Indian side and security was increased in the area and searches are currently ongoing.

The alleged infiltration attempt comes at a time when Jammu has generally been seeing an increase in militant activity. (Express Archive)

Suspected militants hiding in forests inside Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) Saturday afternoon fired at Indian soldiers patrolling on their side of the Line of Control in the border Rajouri district in Jammu, security sources said.

According to sources, the attempted infiltration bid took place at 2 pm near a forward village in Keri sector, when some militants believed to be hiding in a wooded area in PoK opened fire at a patrol team from the Indian Army, who retaliated.

There were no casualties on the Indian side, the sources said, adding that security was increased in the area and searches are currently ongoing.

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The alleged infiltration attempt comes at a time when Jammu has generally been seeing an increase in militant activity.

Significantly, the site of firing falls near Battal in Krishna Ghati sector of adjoining Poonch district where a number of militants had reportedly died in a landmine explosion in the morning of February 5. Although the security forces had no numbers on how many militants were killed in the explosion, sources had claimed that five militants were previously seen lurking in the area.

According to sources, the explosion took place on a route used by militants to infiltrate into J&K from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.

Last month, an Army soldier who was part of a patrolling team in Poonch’s Krishna Ghati sector, was wounded in an accidental landmine explosion.

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