The Hindu : Infiltration is on, says Army

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, May 24, 2003

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Infiltration is on, says Army

By Shujaat Bukhari

SRINAGAR MAY 23. Pakistan has not stopped aiding and abetting the infiltration of militants into India and in the latest attempt on Thursday 12 Lashkar-e-Taiba men were killed.

Maj.Gen. S.S. Dhillon, General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the Baramulla Infantry Division, said "on May 21, we noticed suspicious movement on the opposite side in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and followed it till the morning of May 22 when a group of militants tried to cross into this side." Initially, seven terrorists were killed and in the continuing operation five more were killed.

However, Maj.Gen. Dhillon said that two militants who were trapped and wanted to go back and "it was facilitated by the Pakistan Army by resorting to heavy firing.'' They fired around 125 rounds of artillery to extricate the two terrorists, he said, adding "it brings out the connivance of the Pakistan Army in abetting the infiltration.''

Infiltration began in May as the snow on the peaks started melting. But the troops were alert and ready to foil any designs.

Maj.Gen. Dhillon said the Pakistan Army would try to make some tactical changes in the pattern of infiltration in order to "hide their camps and involvement of their officers.'' Asked about the impact of Pakistan's decision to restrict the Hizb-ul Mujahideen, he said, "as of now no impact is seen on the ground. It may be a political move.''

Meanwhile, one militant of the Lashkar-e-Taiba was killed in an encounter with the security forces at Imam Sahib Shopian in South Kashmir, according to the defence spokesman, Lt.Col. Mukhtiar Singh. However, the borders in the Kashmir region remained calm.

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