Another infiltration bid foiled in JK

Border Security Force personnel on Wednesday foiled two infiltration bids after a brief encounter with militants along the India-Pakistan border in Akhnoor sector of Jammu division, the seventh such attempt by ultras from across the border in January.

A group of five militants entered Indian territory around midnight and their movement was picked up by the patrolling party of BSF at the Tent Border Out Post in Akhnoor sector, a senior BSF official said. The militants were challenged and the gun-battle between the two sides continued for over an hour.

Another infiltration attempt was probably made by the same group at approximately 4.30 am. After a brief firefight between BSF troops and the infiltrating militants, they fled, the official said.

This was the seventh infiltration bid by militants from across the border in the region this month. The first infiltration bid this year was foiled by BSF at the Narianpur Border Out Post in Ramgarh sub-sector of Samba district on January 4.

It was followed by another infiltration bid along the Line of Control in Balakote area of Poonch district on January 8.

A patrolling party of the BSF had foiled an infiltration bid by militants, who had cut the border fence and entered the forward area of Garkhal in Pargwal belt of Akhnoor tehsil on January 10.

On January 11, militants triggered a blast to cut into the border fencing but BSF troops foiled their attempt after a fierce gun-battle between the two sides in Akhnoor sector. Another infiltration attempt was foiled on the same day.