‘Launch commander’ among two killed in Uri infiltration bid: Army
Baramulla: Army on Thursday said that of the two unidentified terrorists killed during a foiled infiltration bid along the LoC in Uri sector yesterday, one has been identified as a ky “launch commander Bashir Ahmad Malik.
Malik and another terrorist were killed Wednesday in a joint operation, codenamed Op Kali, by the Army and Jammu and Kashmir Police along the Line of Control.
“The salient aspect of this operation is the neutralization of Bashir Ahmed Malik, one of the two terrorists killed. He was an important cog in the Pakistan-enabled cross-border terrorism. He was an important terrorist launch commander for terror tanzeems (organisations) from Leepa in the north to the areas in PoJ&K, opposite Rajouri in the south,” Colonel Raghav of 8 Rashtriya Rifles said at a press conference here today.
Flanked by Superintendent of Police Headquarters Baramulla, he said that security forces successfully thwarted an infiltration attempt along the LoC in the Uri sector in which two terrorists were killed.
He said that Operation Kali launched on November 15, was prompted by specific intelligence from reliable sources and SB Srinagar, indicating a potential infiltration across the LoC in the Uri sector.
“The operation was carried out amidst inclement weather in treacherous terrain. Suspicious movement was detected at 08:30 am, leading to a swift response by security forces. The infiltrating terrorists, tracked continuously by surveillance grids, were engaged at 08:50 am, resulting in the neutralization of one of them during the initial contact.” Col Raghav said.
He added that following the exchange of fire, the area was meticulously searched, leading to the neutralization of a second terrorist.
The joint team of security forces engaged in the operation after successful culmination of Operation Kali recovered two AK series rifles, two pistols, four Chinese hand-grenades, ammunition, medicines, eatables, ₹2630 in Pakistani currency, and a Pakistani identity card.
The official said Malik, “who was active for the past 30 years, had enabled infiltration of a number of terrorists who caused the death of many Indian citizens, both security forces personnel as well as civilians.
“His neutralisation is a major blow dealt by us to the terror infrastructure across the line of control and its sympathisers and supporters,” the official said.
The army official also said that repeated infiltration attempts through the same area in the Uri sector of Baramulla district was a display of “desperation” by the adversary to push more terrorists into the Kashmir valley to spoil the prevailing peace and tranquility.
“We have a robust Line of Control security grid and we are on a high vigil. The Indian Army is well prepared to defeat any such infiltration attempts and we will not let the enemy succeed with his devious designs,” he added.
He said it was the second infiltration bid in the area within the last few days. The first bid was also thwarted.
