Srinagar, June 12: The five militants who were killed in north Kashmir’s Uri sector on Line of Control on Friday had unique body-fitted improvised explosive devices (IEDs) indicating they were Fidayeens (suicide squad), army said on Sunday.
The army said that they found a huge quantity of arms and ammunition in search operations after the initial gun fight on June 9.
“In these search operations huge quantities of arms and ammunition have been recovered which includes five AK 47, two under barrel grenade launchers, large quantity of explosives, combat dresses, incendiary material, eatables with Pakistan markings and uniquely body fitted IEDs with timer mechanisms, all indicating that this was a Fidayeen group which was infiltration with the sinister plans to carry out gruesome attacks on an army camp or a civil installation in and around Uri,” said Brigadier YS Ahlawat in a media interaction at Uri Base, about 100 km from Srinagar.
He said that the alertness of army not only resulted in the elimination of this group but also ensured peace and tranquility in the valley which “this group wanted to vitiate in the holy month of Ramadan”.
“This is the fifth infiltration attempt that has been successfully eliminated by the army in last three days. The army continues to resolve to keep a strict vigil on LoC and foil all such nefarious designs of Pakistan abetted terrorists,” he said.
The Army on Friday had claimed it foiled an infiltration bid killing five militants in the Uri sector.
The Army’s northern command on Thursday had said that it has been tackling multiple infiltration bids along the LoC in north Kashmir in four sectors – Machhil, Naugam, Gurez and Uri. A total of 13 militants were killed in the four sectors since Wednesday morning.
Giving details of the Uri operation, Brigadier Ahlawat said the militants tried to infiltrate into Uri by exploiting the thick jungles on the LoC during the night.
“Alert army troops detected their movement and immediately engaged them in a firefight. After the initial fire fight, in a prolonged search operation which has lasted for two days in thick jungles and difficult terrain under inclement weather conditions,” he said.
He said that the group was from Lashkar-e-Taiba and was the second major operation after two members of Pakistan’s Border Action Team (BAT) were killed in Uri on May 26.
“We have seen in the recent days there has been a surge in the infiltration and with the abetment it is likely to continue,” Ahlawal said.
Army says five militants killed in Kashmir’s Uri sector had body-fitted IEDs
