‘3 Indian observation Pickets under militant control in Keran sector’ In a rare incident of its kind, a group of 30 militants managed to occupy three Indian observation pickets near Line of Control (LoC) in Keran Sector of North Kashmir Kupwara’s district. In the ongoing encounter which has entered 5thday Saturday; three more militants have been killed taking toll to 15 in the same sector. Official sources said that three observation pickets situated at high altitude area of Shalbhutu near LoC in Keran sector have been occupied by militants. They said the pickets were seldom used by army to check infiltration attempts made by either side. “Army is now using different observation pickets to counter the desperate attempts of infiltration,” they said. The sources, however maintained that these pickets were being used by 20-Kamaw unit of army which was recently replaced by 3/3-GR unit. “The new unit is yet to come to terms with the new environment and this is the sole reason which benighted the militants to take control over these pickets,” they said. “The militants were regularly monitoring the area through Global Positioning System (GPS) and were aware of the replacement of army unit that took place on September 20,” the sources added. The new army unit, according to sources was unaware about the routes of infiltration. A senior Army official while informing about the ongoing encounter at Keran Sector which has now entered 5thday said that over 30 militants have intruded into this side among which at least 15 militants have been killed so far in the operation. “Militants took benefit of fog in the area and crossed the LoC in large number,” official said, adding that we are not able to retrieve the bodies of militants as the militants on other side are challenging by firing. The Army official, however, refused to comment on the militants’ occupying of three observation pickets in Keran Sector. “Some of the militants have managed to sneak into the forest area of Keran sector and we have started massive combing operation in the nearby forest areas to hunt down the militants,” he added. Sources also said that Army pressed choppers into service during the exchange of fire. “During the search operation, Army used sniffer dogs to locate the militants. However, due to bad weather and in view of darkness, the exchange of fire is going on intermittently,” sources said.
Posted on: Sun, 29 Sep 2013 04:19:50 +0000
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