3 terrorists killed in LoC operations in Kupwara: Army

Srinagar, Aug 29: Three terrorists are believed to have been killed in two separate anti-infiltration operations along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kupwara district, the Army said Thursday.

Operations in the Machil and Tangdhar areas were launched on Wednesday following intelligence inputs, it said.

In a post on X, the Army’s Srinagar-based Chinar Corps said, “Based on intelligence inputs concerning likely infiltration bids, a joint operation was launched by the Indian Army and the Jammu and Kashmir Police on the intervening night of August 28 and 29 in the general area Machil, Kupwara.”

“Suspicious movement was observed in bad weather and was engaged with effective firing by troops; two terrorists are likely to have been killed,” it said.

The Army said another terrorist is believed to have been killed in an operation along the LoC in the Tangdhar area.

“Based on intelligence inputs regarding likely infiltration bids, a joint anti-infiltration operation was launched by the Indian Army and the Jammu and Kashmir Police on the intervening night of August 28 and 29 in general area Tangdhar, Kupwara,” it said on X.

“One terrorist is likely to have been killed,” the Army said.

Both operations were in progress when the last reports were received.

Tarique Raheem reports from Kupwara

Brigadier H K Dhankhar while divulging details in a news conference at Zangli, Kupwara, said that terrorists who were trying to sneak into this side in Tangdhar and Machil sector were killed by the alert troops.

He said that three terrorists were killed in both operations and a huge cache of arms and ammunition was recovered from their possession.

Brigadier Dhankhar said that following credible information from intelligence agencies and Police about possible infiltration bids in Tangdhar and Machil sector on Wednesday, a joint operation by Army, Police, and Border Security Forces (BSF) was launched in both Machil and Tangdhar.

He said that ambushes were laid on possible routes and at about 8 pm, one of the ambush teams in Machil observed the movement of terrorists into this side.

“The infiltrating terrorists were challenged which led to a fierce gunfight and ended with the killing of two terrorists,” he said.

About the Tangdhar operation, Brigadier Dhankhar said that at about 9 pm, a gunfight was initiated between infiltrating terrorists and ambush teams which ended with the killing of a terrorist.

The senior Army officer who was flanked by Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Kupwara, Shobhit Saxena said that these successful operations in Tangdhar and Machil were another example of close synergy between the security forces.