ID :
52322
Thu, 03/26/2009 - 04:41
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http://m.oananews.org//node/52322
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Kupwara operation: Militants were from Lashkar-e-Toiba
Srinagar, Mar 25 (PTI) The 17 militants killed in
Kupwara in India's border state of Jammu and Kashmir were from
Lashkar-e-Toiba and equipment seized from them indicated that
Pakistani security forces had assisted them in infiltrating
Indian territory, the Indian Army Wednesday said.
The terrorists killed in the operations belonged to
Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) and were "highly trained,
well-kitted and indoctrinated", Army's Srinagar-based 15 Corps
Brigadier General Staff Brig Gurmit Singh told reporters here.
He said "the map, guidance systems and equipment (with
terrorists) is indicative that the state and security forces
assistance from across the border was there as such material
is not usually there in the civil domain."
23 AK assault rifles, one pistol, four Under Barrel
Grenade Launchers (UBGLs), 19 UBGL grenades, two hand
grenades, two global positioning systems and 10 radio
sets were recovered from the slain militants, Singh said.
No fresh exchange of fire has occurred since last
evening and the army was carrying out combing operations in
Drangyari and Hafroda forest area after the five-day encounter
which left eight army personnel, including Major Mohit Sharma.
The army officer strongly refuted LeT's claim that
they killed 25 soldiers during the encounter saying "eight
soldiers including Major Mohit Sharma made the supreme
sacrifice."
LeT has claimed responsibility for the Kupwara siege
and threatened to intensify attacks across the Kashmir valley.
"The army had launched a combing operation in
Chowkibal forests on March 20. However, LeT had already
received information about the army movement and laid an
ambush in the forest," LeT spokesman Abdullah Gaznavi said.
Singh claimed the terrorists included "an
infiltrating and a receiving party". The Army had information
about the movement of the group from "both sides of the Line
of Control".
Singh said that "majority" of terrorists from the
infiltrating group have been killed and it was waiting for the
combing operations to end to ascertain the exact number of
terrorists.
He said that encounters took place at three locations
--two in Drangyari and one in Hafroda forest area.
On the number of terrorists in the Kashmir valley and
the state, he said, "Assessed terrorist strength is 300-400
terrorists in the Kashmir valley and 700-800 in Jammu
and Kashmir"
Singh said that more terrorists were waiting to
infiltrate into Jammu and Kashmir.
"Recovery of huge cache of arms and ammunition, map
guidance, and other documents and articles are indicative that
the terrorists will make attempt to sneak into this side."
Asked as to how the infiltrators could travel 40 kms
inside the Indian territory, he said, "at present the area is
buried under snow. Probably that could be the reason that
terrorists sneaked deep into the Indian side". PTI AMS
DEP
NNNN
Kupwara in India's border state of Jammu and Kashmir were from
Lashkar-e-Toiba and equipment seized from them indicated that
Pakistani security forces had assisted them in infiltrating
Indian territory, the Indian Army Wednesday said.
The terrorists killed in the operations belonged to
Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) and were "highly trained,
well-kitted and indoctrinated", Army's Srinagar-based 15 Corps
Brigadier General Staff Brig Gurmit Singh told reporters here.
He said "the map, guidance systems and equipment (with
terrorists) is indicative that the state and security forces
assistance from across the border was there as such material
is not usually there in the civil domain."
23 AK assault rifles, one pistol, four Under Barrel
Grenade Launchers (UBGLs), 19 UBGL grenades, two hand
grenades, two global positioning systems and 10 radio
sets were recovered from the slain militants, Singh said.
No fresh exchange of fire has occurred since last
evening and the army was carrying out combing operations in
Drangyari and Hafroda forest area after the five-day encounter
which left eight army personnel, including Major Mohit Sharma.
The army officer strongly refuted LeT's claim that
they killed 25 soldiers during the encounter saying "eight
soldiers including Major Mohit Sharma made the supreme
sacrifice."
LeT has claimed responsibility for the Kupwara siege
and threatened to intensify attacks across the Kashmir valley.
"The army had launched a combing operation in
Chowkibal forests on March 20. However, LeT had already
received information about the army movement and laid an
ambush in the forest," LeT spokesman Abdullah Gaznavi said.
Singh claimed the terrorists included "an
infiltrating and a receiving party". The Army had information
about the movement of the group from "both sides of the Line
of Control".
Singh said that "majority" of terrorists from the
infiltrating group have been killed and it was waiting for the
combing operations to end to ascertain the exact number of
terrorists.
He said that encounters took place at three locations
--two in Drangyari and one in Hafroda forest area.
On the number of terrorists in the Kashmir valley and
the state, he said, "Assessed terrorist strength is 300-400
terrorists in the Kashmir valley and 700-800 in Jammu
and Kashmir"
Singh said that more terrorists were waiting to
infiltrate into Jammu and Kashmir.
"Recovery of huge cache of arms and ammunition, map
guidance, and other documents and articles are indicative that
the terrorists will make attempt to sneak into this side."
Asked as to how the infiltrators could travel 40 kms
inside the Indian territory, he said, "at present the area is
buried under snow. Probably that could be the reason that
terrorists sneaked deep into the Indian side". PTI AMS
DEP
NNNN
