Army probe into Gurez ‘intrusion’

The Army used heavy artillery and even put Indian Air Force (IAF) on stand by. Though fighters flew reconnaissance sorties, IAF sources maintained it was ‘‘essentially an Army operation.’’ An Army spokesman declined to comment.

Sources said Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani, who was immediately informed about the intrusions, closely monitored the operations. Advani may discuss the implications of the intrusion during his visit to the United States.

According to officials, it took less than 48 hours to get the feature vacated, and the Pakistani presence was there for less than a week.

Reports from Islamabad on August 3 claimed that Indian troops at the LoC ‘‘launched an offensive’’ to set up a new post overlooking Neelam valley but suffered ‘‘heavy casualties when the Indian offensive was repulsed twice.’’

XV Corps commander Lt Gen V G Patankar had then confirmed three casualties.

The incident occurred in the Gurez brigade area, at a hill feature overlooking Neelam Valley. Initially, patrols sent by the Sikh Light Infantry battalion which was in command of the area failed to detect Pakistani presence.

‘‘A neighbouring battalion noted hostile enemy movement and alerted the brigade. The patrol sent on a reconnaissance mission was fired upon, prompting a retaliation. The army immediately mobilised all forces and based on experience gained during the Kargil conflict launched an immediate operation to get the picket vacated,’’ highly placed officials at the Army HQ said.