Army foils infiltration bid along LoC in Kupwara.

Army foils infiltration bid along LoC in Kupwara.

File photo: An army soldier takes position during an operation
 in Keran sector in north Kashmir’s Kupwara district to
 prevent infiltration by militants across the border.

SRINAGAR  | PTI | 18 Aug 2013 :: Army on Sunday foiled an infiltration bid by militants near the Line of Control in Kupwara district of Jammu and Kashmir but there was no report of any casualty.

“Alert troops noticed movement of heavily armed militants along the Line of Control in Keran sector of Kupwara at around 2.30 am. The militants were challenged, triggering off exchange of firing between the two sides,” an army official said.

He said the firing lasted for nearly three hours and the militants have apparently crossed the LoC back in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.

“We are not leaving anything to chance and combing operations are going on in the area. So far no recoveries have been made from the scene of the gun battle,” he said.

The official said there were no casualties reported in the operation.

Infiltration has been on the rise since the month of June this year as security officials believe that the handlers of militants in PoK are trying to push in as many ultras as possible to replace the cadres eliminated by security forces.

Army has said it has killed 28 militants in counter-insurgency operations since June 24 this year in Kashmir valley.

Meanwhile, security forces have launched a cordon and search operation this morning in Handwara area of Kupwara, 85 kms from here, following presence of militants in the area, police said.

The search operations were going on till reports last came in, the police said.(Courtesy :The Hindu)

ARMED FORCES FREE TO RESPOND AS APPROPRIATE: ANTONY.

Armed forces free to respond as appropriate: Antony.

Pak violates ceasefire again

Soldiers on vigil near the Line of Control. Escalating
 border tension, Pakistani troops on Monday violated the
 ceasefire for the fifth time in the last three days by
 targeting forward Indian posts along the LoC in
Poonch district. File photo

JAMMU | VINAY KUMAR | 12 Aug 2013 :: Even as the situation along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir remains tense in the wake of repeated ceasefire violations by Pakistan, Defence Minister A. K. Antony on Monday said that armed forces were free to respond to the situation "appropriately".

Refusing to answer questions on politics by journalists in Kochi after the launch ceremony of India's first indigenous aircraft carrier, Mr. Antony said that Parliament was in session and he would not reply to any question about his two statements In Parliament on the killing of five Indian soldiers at the LoC in Poonch sector that had created a storm.

He was asked about the situation on the LoC and his directions to the Army after the incident on the LoC. "Armed forces are free to respond to developing situation there (on the LoC) appropriately",' Mr. Antony said.

PTI adds:

Pakistani troops on Monday violated the ceasefire for the fifth time in the last three days by targeting forward Indian posts along the LoC in Poonch district with mortar shells, rockets and small arms firing.

The Indian troops, guarding the borderline, took positions and retaliated resulting in heavy exchanges.

“Pakistan troops opened heavy firing with small arms, mortar shells and rockets on Indian forward posts along LoC in Poonch and Durga Battalion areas around 0150 hours”, Defence Spokesman S.N. Acharya said on Monday.

“It was yet another ceasefire violation by Pakistan”, the Spokesman said, adding the firing took place from 0150 hours till 0600 hours.

There was no loss of life or injury to anyone in the Pakistani firing, Mr. Acharya said.

Pakistani troops fired at 11 posts in Digwar, Mankote and Durga Battalion areas along the LoC in Poonch.

This is fifth ceasefire violation by Pakistan troops in the past three days.

Pakistani troops had fired at Durga Battalion area with small arms firing and mortars along LoC in Poonch around 2150 hours on Sunday night. The firing continued for three hours and Army troops from this side retaliated, he said.

There have been 57 ceasefire violations by Pakistani troops this year from January 1 to August 5, which is 80 per cent more than the corresponding period last year.(Courtesy: The Hindu)