Off the wire
• China Hushen 300 index futures open higher Wednesday  • Chinese shares open lower Wednesday  • Party drug testing kits to be handed out at top Australian university  • 1st LD: 10 killed, 3 missing as flashfloods, landslides hit W. Indonesia  • Market exchange rates in China -- Sept. 21  • China treasury bond futures open lower Wednesday  • Chinese yuan weakens to 6.6738 against USD Wednesday  • Brazil registers highest industry confidence since 2014  • Half of Australians to support ban on Muslim immigration: poll  • Urgent: 10 killed, 3 missing after flashfloods, landslides hit W. Indonesia  
You are here: 　 Home

Indian army says foils 2 infiltration bids on Kashmir LoC

Xinhua, September 21, 2016 Adjust font size:

Indian army has claimed it foiled infiltration bids at two different places on Line of Control (LoC) dividing Kashmir.

The infiltration attempts, as per Indian army officials, have been blocked at Uri sector of frontier Baramulla district and Nowgam sector of Kupwara in the northwest of Srinagar, the summer capital of Indian-controlled Kashmir.

Indian army officials said on Tuesday that a trooper was killed fighting infiltrators in Nowgam sector.

"Today our alert troops foiled infiltration attempts at Uri and Nowgam sectors on LoC," an official said. "Operations at both places are going on and one of our soldiers was martyred in Nowgam fighting the militants."

India's semi-official news agency Press Trust of India (PTI) reported 10 infiltrators were killed in Uri. However, Srinagar based Indian army spokesman Col Rajesh Kalia denied to confirm the killings.

"A group of 10 to 12 heavily armed infiltrators tried to infiltrate deep in our territory, but their attempt was foiled," Kalia told Xinhua. "The operation is ongoing. We are collecting details and so far we don't have information about the killing of infiltrators."

The infiltration attempts came two days after four gunmen stormed an Indian army base in Uri, killing 18 troopers and wounding over 20 others. The attack, considered to be deadliest in recent past in the restive region, has heightened tensions in India with some Indian politicians and retired military officials demanding a strong reaction.

Kashmir, the Himalayan region divided between India and Pakistan, is claimed by both in full. Since their independence from Britain, the two countries have fought three wars, two exclusively over Kashmir.

Currently, Indian-controlled Kashmir is grappling with violent unrest. The region has been witnessing the largest anti-India protests - in recent years- since July 8, following the killing of a militant commander in a gunfight with Indian troops.

Authorities have imposed curfew and restrictions to contain street protests, and the region is observing a complete shutdown. Clashes between civilian protesters and government forces have so far resulted in killing of more than 80 people, mostly young men and children, besides injuries to thousands of others. Endit