Indian Army Foils Infiltration Bid In Kashmir's Kupwara, Pakistan Asked To Take Body On Hotline

An AK-47 rifle and large cache of ammunition was recovered from the infiltrator, an officer said.

New Delhi: In a major breakthrough, the Indian Army on Sunday foiled yet another infiltration bid by Pakistan in Jammu & Kashmir's Kupwara district. According to reports, a Pakistani national was killed by the Army while trying to infiltrate the border district. 

The armed forces have also made a hotline communication with Pakistan Army asking it to take back the body of the killed individual.

An AK-47 rifle, a large quantity of ammunition and warlike stores were recovered from the killed terrorist who has been identified as Mohammed Shabbir Malik, an official told news agency PTI.

"In a complete breach of a Ceasefire Understanding between the two armies across the Line of Control (LOC), an infiltration or BAT action (Pakistan Army's Border Action Team) was attempted in the Keran Sector of Kupwara on January 1. However, the infiltration attempt was thwarted and the terrorist was killed by the Indian army," the official said. 

Swift action by the armed forces deployed at the Line of Control (LoC) foiled the infiltration bid and eliminated the militant.

The site of the incident is on the Pakistani side of the Anti-Infiltration Obstacle System which is "kept under the watch of the Indian Army to counter any nefarious activity by infiltrators or Pakistan Army". 

The route adopted by the militant was similar to the one adopted on April 4, 2020 during Operation Rangadori Bhaikh in which five militants were eliminated. The Army also informed that surveillance of the area is in progress.

"Ambushes were laid along likely routes that could be adopted by the intruder and movement was followed till 16.00 hours (4 pm). The ambush was sprung at the opportune moment and the infiltrator eliminated. The body of the slain infiltrator was recovered along with one AK-47 and large quantity of ammunition, including seven grenades," the officer told PTI.

He added that the armed intruder was spotted moving from areas under the control of Pakistan Army across the LOC around 3 pm on Saturday.

"The belongings also include a photo of the infiltrator in Army uniform wearing the name tab of Shabbir," he said, adding that this clearly establishes that Pakistan continues to sponsor cross border terror.

The official said that the slain man's national identity card and vaccination certificates, issued by the Ministry of National Health Services Regulation and Coordination, Government of Pakistan, have ascertained his identity.