Infiltration bid: Army’s search operation on in Keran sector

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, November 23

Even as the Army paid tributes to two soldiers killed in two operations in Kupwara district, searches are underway in the Keran sector where an infiltration bid was foiled on Wednesday.

Defence sources said the combing operation were going on in the forest area of Keran in the hunt of militants, who might be hiding in the area after the infiltration bid was foiled. However, no contact with militants was established. “The operation is on,” the sources said. Sepoy Mandeep Singh of 9 Sikh Light Infantry was killed in Keran while foiling the infiltration bid that also left a militant dead. Meanwhile, the Army today paid befitting tributes to two of its soldiers, who were killed during two operations in Kupwara on November 21 and 22, respectively.

“In a solemn ceremony at Badami Bagh Cantonment, Lt Gen JS Sandhu, Corps Commander, Chinar Corps, and all ranks paid homage to the martyrs on the behalf of a proud nation. In a show of solidarity, officials and representatives from the state government and other security agencies also joined in paying their last respects to the martyrs,” a defence spokesman said.

Rifleman Jitender Kumar, 23, sustained bullet injuries during a fierce operation in Zarhama, Kupwara, on November 21 while trying to intercept LeT militants.

Sepoy Mandeep Singh, 32, from Punjab had joined the Army in 2004. He is survived by his wife and a son.