The Kashmir Pulse

SRINAGAR — A soldier and an intruder were killed, while four other soldiers were injured in a Pakistani Border Action Team (BAT) attack in the Machil sector along the Line of Control (LoC) in Kupwara district on Saturday, official sources said.

According to sources who spoke to the news agency KNO, the Pakistani BAT attacked an Army post in the Kamkari sector along the LoC on Saturday morning. Five soldiers, including a captain, were injured in the attack, with one soldier later succumbing to his injuries.

An intruder, identified as a Pakistani national, was killed in the retaliatory action by Indian forces, they said, adding that a fighting knife called a dagger, a Chinese Type-56-1 assault rifle and other materials were recovered from the attacker.

This incident occurred a day after Kargil Vijay Diwas, during which Prime Minister Narendra Modi issued a stern warning to Pakistan, asserting that Indian forces would crush 'terrorism' and respond decisively to enemy actions.

The Srinagar-based Defence spokesperson confirmed the incident, saying that a group of two to three armed personnel exploited bad weather and poor visibility to cross the LoC and fire on a forward Army post.

"Alert troops responded vigorously, and in the ensuing exchange of fire, one Pakistani intruder was killed, with weapons, ammunition, and war-like stores recovered. The identification and affiliation of this Pakistani national are being ascertained," the spokesperson said.

He said two Indian soldiers were gravely injured during the exchange and were evacuated to the Base Hospital in Srinagar. Unfortunately, one of the soldiers, Rifleman Mohit Rathour, succumbed to his injuries, while the other is stable and responding well to treatment, he added.

The Defence spokesperson said that similar attempts by infiltrators, often aided by the Pakistani Army, have exploited thick foliage and poor visibility conditions but have consistently been thwarted by alert Indian troops. “The Indian Army remains firm in its resolve to maintain the sanctity of the LoC and defeat the inimical designs of the Pakistan Army,” he said.

This incident follows a series of recent infiltration attempts along the LoC in Kupwara, including an anti-militancy operation in Kowut (Trimukha Top) on July 24, where a militant and an Army soldier were killed.

On July 18, two infiltrators were killed in the Keran sector, with a large cache of arms and ammunition recovered. Similarly, on July 15, three infiltrators were killed while attempting to cross the LoC in the same sector.

The Indian Army extended condolences over the death of Rifleman Mohit Rathour, with General Upendra Dwivedi, Chief of Army Staff (COAS), and all ranks of the Indian Army saluting the “supreme sacrifice of the braveheart”.

“Indian Army offers deepest condolences and stands firm with the bereaved family in this hour of grief,” it posted on the social media site 'X'.

SRINAGAR — Two militants were killed as security forces claimed to have foiled an infiltration bid in Machil sector of Kupwara district on Wednesday.

An official said that two militants were killed after an infiltration bid was foiled on Wednesday morning by alert troops along LoC in Machil sector, Kupwara.

He said that four AK rifles, six hand grenades and other war-like stores have been recovered. He added that the operation is in progress and further details will be shared later.

SRINAGAR — Three soldiers including a Junior Commissioned Officer (JCO) died in Machil area of north Kashmir’s Kupwara district when they slipped and fell into a deep gorge.

In a tweet, as per the reports of the news agency KNO, a party comprising a JCO and two others slipped into a deep gorge during a required operational task. The Army further said that the mortal remains of all three have been retrieved.

This is the second such incident in the area in the past two months. In November, three soldiers died when a snow avalanche struck them in the area.

KUPWARA — Security forces gunned down two militants near the Line of Control (LoC) in Tekri Nar area of Machil in north Kashmir's Kupwara district on Sunday, J&K Police said here.

The police said that identification of the killed militants is being ascertained while two AK-47 rifles, two pistols and four hand grenades were recovered.

"Army and Kupwara Police neutralised two terrorists near LoC Tekri Nar in Machil area of Kupwara. The identification of the killed terrorists is being ascertained. Two AK-47 rifles, two pistols and four hand grenades were recovered. Further details shall follow," a police spokesperson said in a tweet on Kashmir Police Zone handle.