“The operation enters into 9th day today,” General Officer Commanding 15 Corps Lt Gen Gurmeet Singh while talking to reporters said, adding that “We are not in a hurry to close the operation in order to prevent the casualties.”

GOC said the area is rigid and rocky with an altitude of 9000 to 10000 ft which in all ways favors militants. “They have adjusted themselves in ordinary hideouts and repeatedly fired upon Army,” he said and added that militants are highly trained as compared to previous ones.

When asked about the retrieval of militant bodies lying in the area, General Gurmit said, “This is not an issue of importance for us, we just want to finish the operation without giving casualties”. He also rubbished the reports that Pakistani Army has taken control of any village.

The Corps Commander said the infiltration attempts have been witnessed in the area last night in order to rescue militants from the cordoned area which resulted in intermittent exchange of firing from both sides. “But our counter infiltration grid is in place and our cordon is effective,” GOC said, adding that during the 9-day-long operation five troopers sustained injuries.

The General, however, refused to give further details. “Once the operation is over, we’ll accordingly provide detailed report to media,” he said.

When questioned about the killing of 60-year-old man in Machil Sector, General Gurmit denied the person was a civilian. “The killed person was a militant and was gunned down by our troopers after he was seen crossing to this side on September 23,” he said.

Meanwhile, another Indian troopers sustained bullet wounds today in an ongoing operation at Shalabatoo in Keran Sector. The injured trooper was immediately airlifted to Army’s 92-Base Hospital here in Srinagar. The total casualty of troopers, so far, in the 9-day-long operation has reached six. (GNS)