Pakistan's Border Action Team behind attack in Macchil sector: BSF

Srinagar: The BSF Tuesday said the encounter in Macchil sector in north Kashmir, in which three BSF personnel and a militant were killed, was an attempt by Pakistan's Border Action Team (BAT) with support from Pakistani army to infiltrate militants into the Valley.

"Yesterday early morning, there was an encounter. Apparently, it seems, a BAT (Border Action Team) action where the Pakistani army has given fire support to infiltrate some of the militants," Additional DG BSF Arun Kumar told reporters here.

He said the attack was part of a series of such incidents on the borders in both the Kashmir Valley as well as in Jammu region.

"One of them (infiltrators) was killed. He was carrying one AK 47 and a grenade. When our company commander rushed and spotted him, he exchanged fire. In addition to our three martyrs, some of our other soldiers have suffered minor injuries and this is in a series of incidents where, under the operation of army and BSF, infiltrators are being neutralised in encounters both at the Srinagar and Jammu frontiers," he said.

"In Rajouri also, just a few days back, we killed three of them. So, I think, this seems to be in series of that," the Additional DG BSF said.

Kumar said the infiltrators took advantage of the low visibility amid bad weather to reach the BSF post.

"The fencing around our posts has broken at many places and it is a less distance from the posts. They also took advantage of bad weather during early morning when the visibility is low," he said

The officer said the forces responded in an brave manner to thwart the infiltration attempt.

"We got one body that was on our side but how many casualties are on the other side, that we will know. I hope there has been more damage to them," he said.

Kumar said surveillance at the border has been increased in view of the "desperate" infiltration attempts by militants.

"The surveillance has been increased. We work under the operational command of the army. Naturally, what happens is that when the snow melts the activity increases and we take precautions to make their attempts unsuccessful," he said.

"The intelligence sources have warned us. There are people sitting on another side and are trying their best to infiltrate to this side. I think, the way things are happening, they cannot succeed without the active support of Pakistan army," he said.

Three BSF personnel, including an officer, and a militant were killed yesterday in an operation in Macchil sector near the Line of Control in Kupwara in Kashmir.