Jammu and Kashmir: Intruder shot dead, narcotics, Pakistani currency seized in Poonch

Jammu based Defence Spokesman, Lt Col Devender Anand said that at around 2215 hours, alert troops deployed on the Line of Control in the Poonch Sector observed a suspicious movement of a group (three individuals) close to the Line of Control.

"At around midnight the group, crossed the Line of Control and started infiltrating on to own side," he said.

The spokesman added that alert troops kept the movement of the infiltrating group under continuous observation and at around 2 am as the group approached the fence, the Indian Army troops deployed on the fence challenged the infiltrators.

"The intruders started to run away, were engaged by fire, in which one intruder was shot dead, while the other two managed to run into the jungle taking advantage of the thick foliage and rocky outcrop. The area was immediately cordoned to prevent their escape across the Line of Control," he said.

The spokesman added that search operation was launched at first light wherein the dead body of one intruder was recovered at the encounter site.

"As the search progressed in the forest, one intruder was apprehended alive in wounded condition. In the subsequent search the third intruder was also apprehended alive," he stated.

In the search operation, he said that so far three bags with fourteen packets of Narcotics weighing approx 17 kgs, Pakistan currency, some documents, and eatables have been recovered.

During preliminary questioning, the two intruders, who have been apprehended alive, have claimed that they (all three) are residents of Pakistan Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (POJK) and belong to Maidan Mohalla, village Chanjal.

By their quick action, alert Indian Army troops have thus prevented a major infiltration bid, of a Narco terror group which had the potential of disturbing the peace in Poonch and Rajouri Districts through its nefarious designs, he added.

(With UNI inputs)