Robust counter-infiltration grid led to minimum infiltration: Indian Army

Srinagar: The Army on Tuesday said that a "robust counter-infiltration grid" in Jammu and Kashmir led to "negligible infiltration" this year, despite the desperate attempts to push as many militants before the onset of winter to make up for their dwindling numbers in the hinterland.

"There are more than 300 militants who are ahead in the launch pads, waiting to be launched. But, unfortunately for them, they are not finding an opening.

"Negligible is the infiltration that has happened over this year and whatever does get through in a shallow area is being caught over there," General Officer Commanding of Srinagar-based 15 Corps Lt Gen Satish Dua told reporters on the sidelines of a function at Awantipora in south Kashmir.

He said there has been an increase in attempts by militants to sneak into the valley in the last couple of weeks but most of these bids were foiled by the alert troops along the Line of Control (LoC).

The Commander stated that the number of militants in the hinterland is currently "low".

"The infiltration is not happening at all. So, it is their frustration (trying to send as many militants) that is coming out," he said.

Dua noted that there was nothing unusual in the infiltration attempts as militants are usually being sent before the onset of winter which results in the closure of infiltration routes.

"This is the trend that happens every year that just before the snow sets in, they keep trying to push in militants," he said.

He emphasised that the militants are not able to penetrate the robust counter-infiltration grid along the LoC.

"First of all, what is happening is because of our very coordinated, multi-tiered counter infiltration grid, they are not able to get through in the numbers that they want to.

"Thus they are attempting to just create some incident very close to the LoC. Several times they have run back after firing a few shots or throwing an IED," he said.

About the recent encounters in the forests near the LoC in north Kashmir, the Army Commander said, "Yes, there have been encounters in the last week or ten days. There have been some terrorist kills. We have also had a few soldiers who have been martyred. So that shows that they are there and they are trying their best but they are not succeeding very much."