JOIN USArmy kills 2 militants, foils BAT attack along LoC
The army foiled an attack by a Pakistani Border Action Team (BAT) along the Line of Control in Uri sector of north Kashmir’s Baramulla district, killing two militants on Friday.
Defence spokesman Col Rajesh Kalia said the BAT action was aimed at an Indian Army patrol along the LoC.
“Two BAT terrorists have been killed, and the operation is still on,” he said.Sources said the attempt was thwarted between Gwaltan and Uroosa in Uri sector when armed militants infiltrated from a Pakistani post, which is 200 metres from the LoC in the area.
“They were spotted on the Indian side around 8.40 am and in the exchange of fire, both were neutralised at a distance of 500 m from the LoC on the Indian side,” a source said.
One AK-47 rifle, a pistol and other war-like stores have been recovered from the encounter site. In September, militants attacked an Indian Army’s base in Uri, in which 19 soldiers lost their lives.
On May 1, BAT personnel crossed into Indian territory near the LoC in Krishna Ghati sector of Poonch district in Jammu, killing two Indian soldiers and mutilating their bodies. Days later, the Indian Army carried out an assault on Pakistani posts aiding cross-border infiltration.
The primary task of the BAT, which usually consists of Pakistan army commandos and terrorists from the Lashkar-e-Toiba, Hizbul Mujahideen and Jaish-e-Mohammad outfits, is to dominate the LoC by carrying out disruptive actions in the form of surreptitious raids.
“The team usually has four to 10 people as the Pakistan army encourages such action along the LoC,” Kalia said.