Army Thwarts Infiltration Bid in Northern Kashmir
In a significant security operation, Indian Army soldiers shot dead two infiltrators who were attempting to cross the Line of Control in the Keran sector of Kupwara district, approximately 140 kilometers north of Srinagar. The Army officially confirmed the incident on Saturday, revealing that the successful counter-infiltration operation was part of the strategically named "Operation Pimple".
The confrontation unfolded after security forces received specific intelligence about a planned infiltration attempt on Friday evening. According to Army statements, troops monitoring the sensitive border area detected suspicious movement near the LoC. When challenged, the infiltrating group responded with indiscriminate fire, triggering an immediate response from the alert soldiers.
Winter Infiltration Pattern and Continued Operations
This latest infiltration attempt aligns with the established pattern where cross-border movements typically increase just before the onset of the harsh Himalayan winter. The approaching season brings sub-zero temperatures and heavy snowfall that effectively seal mountain routes, making border crossings nearly impossible for several months.
While two infiltrators were confirmed neutralized in the initial exchange, security operations continued throughout Saturday as forces maintained high alert levels in the sector to ensure no additional threats remained active in the area.
Parallel Police Crackdown Across Jammu and Kashmir
Simultaneously with the Keran sector operation, Jammu and Kashmir Police launched coordinated search and cordon operations across multiple districts in a comprehensive effort to dismantle support networks allegedly linked to terrorist handlers operating from Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.
In north Kashmir's Sopore area, police initiated what they described as a "massive crackdown" targeting "overground workers" and associates of cross-border handlers. Official statements confirmed that "a large number of suspected OGWs and sympathisers have been picked up for questioning from different areas of Sopore."
Investigators are currently examining multiple aspects of these networks, including:
- Suspected links to cross-border handlers
- Financial routes used for funding operations
- Communication channels maintaining cross-border contact
Police authorities indicated that the intensive monitoring drive would continue in the coming days to completely neutralize these support structures.
Widespread Operations Across Multiple Districts
The security sweep extended beyond Sopore, with police carrying out targeted operations in Khansahib, Beerwah, and Budgam zones. These actions were initiated based on specific intelligence about groups allegedly involved in facilitating and funding terrorist activities "at the behest of their relatives based across the border."
In South Kashmir's Kulgam district, similar security measures targeted individuals accused of providing assistance to Kashmiris operating from Pakistan or PoK. Several relatives and associates of these operatives were detained under relevant legal provisions for what police described as continued involvement in anti-national activities.
The crackdown reached central Kashmir's Ganderbal district, where police conducted searches at approximately 60 different locations. Official statements revealed that "several relatives and close associates of active JKNOP operatives were interrogated for their involvement in unlawful activities, including logistical support, recruitment facilitation, and circulation of anti-national propaganda."
This comprehensive security approach demonstrates the determined efforts of Indian security forces to address both immediate infiltration threats and the underlying support networks that sustain cross-border terrorism in the region.
