Srinagar/IBNS/UNI: Security forces foiled an infiltration bid and shot dead two suspected Pakistani militants in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kupwara district, police said on Wednesday.

The bid was foiled in the Machil sector of the Kupwara district.

Officials said the operation was based on specific and credible intelligence developed by the Border Security Forces (BSF) intelligence wing.

Srinagar-based defence spokesman Col Emron Musavi said that the bid was foiled based on intelligence provided by the BSF and which was duly corroborated by other intelligence agencies.

After the input, a joint operation by the Indian Army, BSF, and police was planned and multiple ambushes were laid along the likely routes of infiltration, he said.

The spokesperson said troops detected suspicious movement along the LoC at around 11 p.m. on Tuesday.

“The movement of terrorists was continuously tracked through surveillance devices. At around 04.55 hours, contact was established with the terrorists. An intense firefight ensued resulting in the elimination of two foreign terrorists,” Col Musavi said.

He said a thorough joint search operation was launched in the morning, resulting in the recovery of four AK series rifles, one Under Barrel Grenade Launcher (UBGL), five UBGL grenades, nine magazines, 175 AK rounds, six hand grenades, tactical vests and a large quantity of war like stores.

“This successful counter-infiltration operation is also an indicator of repeated attempts by terrorist groups to push terrorists and war-like stores into Jammu and Kashmir to disturb the prevailing peace, development, and growth in the Union Territory,” a defence spokesperson said.

Police said the identification and affiliation of the killed militants were being ascertained.