Srinagar May 18: For the first time since eruption of militancy, no infiltration bid was reported from any part of the state between March and May.
A senior Army officer on Wednesday told Greater Kashmir that it is for the first time in the past 20-years that no infiltration bid had taken place from March to May from any side along line of control (LoC).
“During past 20 years infiltration bids along the LoC were noticed during the early spring, beginning from middle March. The infiltration usually used to occur during these months as militants start crossing over with the melting of snow in the upper reaches,” he said.
“We have noticed infiltration bids as early as in March when large number of militants would make attempts to cross over from different routes along LoC in north Kashmir. Mostly we used to notice such attempts in Machil, Keran and Gurez sectors,” he added.
 “We don’t know why the infiltration bids have not taken place this year. Whether, it is a strategic retreat or a well calculated move. It needs to be assessed,” the official added.
Pertinently, two top army officers had recently stated that no infiltration attempts were reported from any part of the state during past 3-months.
(GOC-in-C) of Northern Command Lt Gen K T Parnaik, had recently stated: “As far as our information is concerned,they (militants) have not succeeded in infiltrating into our side yet.”
 Major General Ravi Thodge, GOC Kilo Force, who is in-charge security of north Kashmir, at the sidelines of a function on Tuesday here had said, “So far there are no reports about infiltration and if they (infiltrators) come, they will be dismantled at the LoC.”

2010 INFILTRATION BIDS
 While giving details about the encounters which took place last year the senior Army officer said that nearly 35 persons were killed during infiltration bids or cross LoC encounters in three months (March, April and May) in 2010.
 On March 26, 2010, first infiltration bid was foiled in north Kashmir’s Keran sector when Army claimed to have killed one militant near Ustad post.
 Following the incident, another infiltration bid was noticed on March 27 in the same area. The army claimed that eight persons, including five militants and three soldiers were killed in the ensuing gunfights.
 The Army on April 30, 2010 had claimed to have foiled another infiltration bid by killing three militants in Machil sector.
 The biggest encounter last year occurred from May 7 to May 17 when Army claimed that they had intercepted a “biggest infiltrating group” of around 14 to 22 militants in Rafiabad area of north Kashmir.
 The Army had said the group had infiltrated through Uri along LOC.
 After 10-days of several encounters in Rafiabad forests the then GOC Kilo Force, Major General N George had said 13 persons, including 11 militants and 2 soldiers, were killed in different encounters in the area.
 On May 10, paramilitary BSF had claimed to have killed an “infiltrator” in R S Pura sector of Jammu. One soldier was killed in Chowkibal area after militants opened fire on army contingents who had intercepted an infiltrating group on May 12, 2010. Further two soldiers were killed along LoC in Krishna Ghati sector of Rajouri sector.
 On May 23, 2010, a Pakistani soldier was killed in cross LoC clash in Poonch district while as on May 25 a BSF personnel was injured in the clash. On May 26, 2010, the army claimed to have killed two “infiltrators” in Tanghdar district.
 The senior army official had said apart from infiltration bids, the cross LOC clashes too have declined in 2011. “In Kashmir there has been no clash registered. But in Jammu sporadic shoots out do occur,” he added.

Lastupdate on : Wed, 18 May 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Wed, 18 May 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Thu, 19 May 2011 00:00:00 IST