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Journalism of Courage
The Army has said infiltration along the Line of Control (LoC) is on, contrary to what its chief and the Defence Minister said a fortnight ago.
George Fernandes later said infiltration had nearly stopped. An army spokesman, however, today emphatically said infiltration along the LoC is on despite Pakistan’s promise to stop it. The Pakistan army has now resorted to unprovoked shelling to help infiltration.
A senior official at Army headquarters said: ‘‘When Fernandes and the chief (General S. Padmanabhan) said infiltration was down, they meant over a very brief period in June first week. But now, it appears to be picking up again. From the situation on the ground, it appears (Pakistan) President (Pervez) Musharraf is not sticking to his word.’’
An infiltration bid was foiled this morning in the Kupwara sector when two terrorists were killed and a ‘‘large quantity of war-like material’’ (two rifles and a radio set) were recovered.
‘‘The Pakistan army assisted and supported the infiltration by resorting to heavy unprovoked shelling at posts along the LoC in the area of infiltration,’’ the spokesman said.
‘‘Seen in conjunction with two earlier infiltration bids in the Poonch sector over the past one week and considering that for every infiltration bid foiled or detected, three or four others go undetected, it is evident infiltration across the LoC is on despite Pakistan promises to stop it,’’ he said.
An ambush party deployed 400 metres inside the LoC in Keran sector this morning detected movement of terrorists. ‘‘A fierce gun battle ensued in which two terrorists were killed. A large quantity of war-like material was recovered from the site,’’ the spokesman said.
The Army gave details of two recent incidents — one near Sarian where four terrorists were killed between June 24 and 29 and three rifles recovered, and the other on June 29 when three terrorists were killed at Phagwari Gali near Surankot and three rifles, pistol and revolver recovered.
According to senior Army officers here, there was a slight lull in infiltration north of Pir Panjal (in Kupwara and Baramulla) in early June. Pakistani onslaught continues unabated south of Pir Panjal (Poonch and Rajouri).
