This Article is From Oct 08, 2013

Keran operation called off; Pakistan's support behind infiltration, says army

Lt Gen Sanjiv Chachra speaking to reporters in Srinagar.

Srinagar / New Delhi: One of the longest anti-infiltration operations in recent times ended today with the Indian army finishing seven massive search operations of a three-km area in their mission to hunt down the terrorists in the Keran sector along the Line of Control.

In the operation that lasted 15 days, seven terrorists were killed and six jawans of the Indian army were injured. Army officials say an infiltration of this size could not have been possible without the support of the Pakistan army. (Foreign media on Keran operation)

"On the LoC, we are eyeball to eyeball with Pakistan Army. How can such a large group infiltrate without the complicity of the Pak Army?" General Officer Commanding, Northern Command, Lt Gen Sanjiv Chachra said today in Srinagar while announcing the end of the Keran operation.

Speaking at an event near Delhi today, army chief General Bikram Singh categorically said that the seven terrorists killed while infiltrating at Keran may have been part of a 40-member infiltration group. He also ruled out any domination or occupation of any area by the terrorists.

"Which adversary is going to dominate an area by sitting in a nullah? Sure, there was infiltration bid but that has been foiled. It was a desperate infiltration bid," Gen Singh said.

Bodies of dead terrorists may also have been dragged back or buried in crevices or the thick jungle, army sources said. (NDTV exclusive: First images of terrorists killed)

Yesterday, NDTV spoke exclusively to one of the soldiers who was engaged in the massive Keran encounter. He said that he saw 35 to 40 infiltrators as he took a bullet in the abdomen.
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