A clash between the Indian Army and a “large number” of militants has been going on for nine days near the Line of Control in Kashmir’s Kupwara district. A senior Army officer said Wednesday the pattern of firing indicated the infiltrators had the backing and training of Pakistani “special troops”. Lt. Gen. Gurmit Singh, GOC of Srinagar-based 15 (Chinar) Corps, told reporters the 30-40 infiltrators may include men of the Pakistan Army Border Action Team. “This is not a pure infiltration attempt. They are specially trained and could include BAT too,” Gen. Singh said. In reply to questions, he said: “It would be premature to comment on specifics, but this is a BAT action-cum-infiltration.” Sources said a village, Shala Bhatta, was taken over by the infiltrators, but this was denied by the general, who said: “There is no question of our territory being taken over.” Gen. Singh said the infiltration had taken place in the Keran sector of Kupwara on September 23, and fighting was still raging in the “difficult and rugged” forested area. Police sources said the clash was under way at Shala Bhatta, a village virtually abandoned in 1990 by a few hundred of its residents, all of whom crossed over to the Pakistani side. Five Indian soldiers are believed to have been injured in the operation. “All the injured soldiers have been hospitalised and are stable,” Gen. Singh said.
