2 infiltrating terrorists killed along LoC in Keran Sector: Army

Srinagar, Sep 28: Two terrorists attempting to infiltrate across the Line of Control (LoC) in the Keran Sector of north Kashmir’s Kupwara district were killed by the Army in an  encounter last night, said Army.

However, the bodies of killed terrorists are yet to be recovered as they lie in no-man’s land, amidst dense forest and a heavily mined terrain.

According to senior officials in the security establishment, the Balbir Battalion of the Army noticed suspicious movement near the Hyder Post along the LoC in Keran late last night. When challenged by the troops, the intruders opened fire, triggering a gunfight under the cover of darkness. “Two terrorists were neutralized during the exchange of fire. Their bodies remain unrecovered as they are lying in no-man’s land, which is both rugged and heavily mined,” source said.

The area where the encounter took place is part of a thickly forested and mountainous stretch that makes both visibility and movement extremely challenging. Recovery operations are being approached with caution due to the presence of landmines, officials said. “The terrain poses a significant obstacle to recovery efforts. Any movement in that area could trigger landmines, endangering the lives of troops,” an official added. The search and combing operation is still ongoing in the area to ensure that no other terrorists are hiding or have managed to slip through. Additional reinforcements have been rushed to the sector, and all possible escape routes have been sealed off. “The possibility of others attempting to infiltrate under cover cannot be ruled out. The operation remains active, and troops are maintaining tight vigil,” sources said.

The Keran sector has long been a sensitive corridor for infiltration attempts given its proximity to terror launch pads across the border and the challenging geography that offers natural cover to infiltrators.

With winter approaching, security forces traditionally apprehend a spike in infiltration attempts as terrorist groups attempt to push in cadres before snow blocks traditional routes. As such, surveillance and troop deployments have been intensified along this stretch of the LoC. “Keran remains a hotspot for infiltration. Every year before snowfall, we see a spike in attempts. But our troops are alert and capable of neutralising such threats,” a senior Army official said.