Srinagar: Internet and phone services in Uri sector of north Kashmir were suspended on Monday after army reported a major infiltration bid by a heavily armed group of militants during the intervening night of September 19-20.
The General Officer Commanding (GoC) of the Army’s Srinagar-based 15 Corps or Chinar Corps, Lt Gen D P Pandey said Monday that the operation has been ongoing for the last 24 hours after “we felt that there is an infiltration attempt which has been made” .
“We are looking for them…are they on this side or have gone back after making an attempt, that issue has not yet been clarified or verified on the ground,’ he said.
Lt Gen Pandey, however, said the force was alert to foil any infiltration attempt.
I can assure you that we are quite alert . Our troops on the ground are totally alert and we will ensure that minimal infiltration takes place whenever they attempt, he said.
According to NDTV, internet services and mobile phones have been suspended in the Uri sector of north Kashmir since Monday morning.
Quoting government sources in Delhi, the report said that a group of around six infiltrators managed to sneak in from Pakistan.
“A soldier was injured in firing during the infiltration attempt,” they said.
The report further said that it was for the first time when phone services and the internet was suspended in the wake of a cross-border infiltration attempt.
Earlier, Lt Gen Pandey said that there has been no ceasefire violation along the Line of Control (LoC) in Kashmir since the reiteration of the agreement between the armies of India and Pakistan in February this year, a
“The ceasefire violations have not increased. This year there has been none (ceasefire violation). At least in the Kashmir Valley, there has been zero,” the GoC told reporters on the sidelines of a function here.
Lt Gen Pandey said while there has been no instigation from Pakistan, the Indian Army is totally alert and prepared to respond appropriately to any ceasefire violation.
“We are totally prepared for ceasefire violations, if anything happens, we are all set to respond appropriately. But, frankly, there has been no instigation from across the border, he said.
Asked about infiltration attempts made by militants from across the LoC this year, the Army officer said there have hardly been any successful attempts.
There have been some attempts. Unlike previous years, these have not been adequately supported (by ceasefire violations). There have hardly been any successful attempts, only about two attempts have succeeded. One was neutralised in Bandipora and we are looking for the second one, he said.
India and Pakistan had agreed to the strict observance of all agreements, understandings and ceasefire along the Line of Control and all other sectors with effect from the February 24-25 midnight 2021.
Earlier, the GOC Chinar Corps felicitated students of the first and second batches of the Army’s Kashmir Super 30 (Medical) course who are now successfully pursuing MBBS and other courses after clearing the NEET.