A major ceasefire was breached by Pakistan in Jammu and Kashmir, on Oct 26, first time since Feb 2021. 

Today, on the occasion of Infantry day, India woke up to the news of neutralising five terrorists in an encounter at Machil sector in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kupwara district on Oct 26.

According to Kashmir zone police, the encounter started around 1.30 p.m. on Oct 26.

“Three more terrorists of LeT killed (Total 05). Identification being ascertained. Search operation in progress. Further details shall follow,” Jammu and Kashmir Police said in a post on X, citing additional director general of police, Kashmir Zone, Vijay Kumar.

The firefight started after a joint team of police and security forces got an input about the presence of terrorists in that area. After security forces cordoned off the area, terrorists hiding there started firing, drawing retaliation by the security forces.

There have been a series of encounters between terrorists and security forces across Kashmir in the recent past in which many terrorists have been eliminated.

Heavy shelling along the border from Pak’s side

Overnight during the operation, two Border Security Force (BSF) troopers and a woman were injured as many civilians abandoned their homes to take shelter in safe areas after Pakistan Rangers resorted to heavy firing and shelling along the International Border (IB) in Arnia and Suchetgarh sectors of Jammu district.

In a statement, the BSF said on Oct 26: “Tonight at about 8 p.m. unprovoked firing started by Pakistan Rangers on BSF posts in the Arnia area which is being befittingly retaliated by the BSF troops.”

In the Arnia, the firing targeted half a dozen forward villages after which the Pakistani troopers expanded firing to three villages of Suchetgarh sector.

Few mortar shells were also fired by the Rangers targeting civilian areas.

Police said heavy firing continued till 11 p.m. after which intermittent firing was on.

Two BSF jawans injured

Two BSF jawans injured in the firing in the Arnia sector were identified as Basavraj SR (30) from Karnataka and Sher Singh.

The Injured woman was identified as Rajni Bala (38) of Arnia.

The injured were admitted to the Government Medical College (GMC) Hospital, Jammu where their condition was said to be stable by attending doctors.

Panic gripped border dwellers as firing started from the Pakistan side.

A number of labourers, who had come to work in the field, were the first to desert the villages to take shelter in safer areas.

The round of firing on Oct 26, shelling by Pakistan rangers comes over a week after two BSF personnel were injured following unprovoked firing by the Rangers in the same sector on Oct 17.

India and Pakistan signed a ceasefire agreement on Feb 25, 2021 to strictly observe ceasefire along the Line of Control and the IB in Jammu and Kashmir.

J&K’s director general of police (DCP) Dilbag Singh visited forward areas in the Keran Sector of border Kupwara district to assess the prevailing situation along the Line of Control (LoC) on Oct 26.

Addressing media persons, the DGP, giving information about the ongoing encounter, said that a joint operation by the army and police is underway.

“The anti-infiltration grid is robust and because of this five infiltrating terrorists were neutralised today. Infiltration bids keep happening from Pakistan’s side and it is being foiled by the Army, police and other agencies. There are a number of terror training camps and launching pads active across the border, adding that at least 16 launching pads are located opposite this division in PoK,” the statement said.

(With inputs from IANS)

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