Kupwara (J&K): A major infiltration attempt along the Line of Control (LoC) in north Kashmir’s Kupwara district was foiled late Monday night, with two militants shot dead in a swift encounter with security forces, officials said on Tuesday.
According to defence sources, troops deployed in the Machhal sector detected suspicious movement close to the LoC and swiftly engaged the infiltrators. The operation was launched following specific intelligence inputs provided by the Jammu and Kashmir Police and corroborated by multiple security agencies.
“Alert troops noticed movement along the LoC and issued a challenge to the infiltrators. The terrorists responded with heavy gunfire, prompting a retaliatory response from our side. In the ensuing exchange, two terrorists were neutralized,” the Army’s Srinagar-based Chinar Corps stated in an official post on X (formerly Twitter).
Security personnel later recovered a cache of arms, ammunition, and other equipment from the site, indicating that the slain militants were part of a heavily armed group attempting to cross from Pakistan-occupied territory into Indian soil. The nature and origin of the recovered weapons are being examined, officials added.
The operation, which was conducted jointly by the Indian Army and Jammu and Kashmir Police, continued into the early hours of Tuesday to ensure that no other infiltrator remained hidden in the area. Search operations were underway until late morning.
Defence officials said the foiled attempt is part of a pattern of increased infiltration bids as winter approaches and mountain passes near the LoC begin to close due to snowfall. “Terror groups are attempting to push infiltrators across before snow blocks traditional routes,” an Army officer said, adding that the alertness of the troops has once again prevented militants from entering Indian territory.
Kupwara, located along a sensitive stretch of the LoC, has witnessed several such incidents in recent months as security forces intensify surveillance and counter-infiltration operations. The Army has reiterated that it remains fully prepared to thwart any future attempts.
This latest encounter underscores the continuing security challenges in Jammu and Kashmir’s border districts, even as the region maintains relative calm in the hinterland. Further details about the identity and affiliation of the slain terrorists are expected after forensic analysis and investigation.
