LoC encounter enters 11th day; operation in final stages, says Army

New Delhi: With the encounter in Jammu and Kashmir's Kupwara region entering its 11th day today, Indian Army sources said the operation to check the infiltration by at least 30 terrorists from Pakistan is in its final stages now.

According to sources, sporadic firing is still on in Shala Batu village in Keran sector between more than 1300 Gurkha Rifles jawans and the terrorists, who have been restricted to an area of around one square km.

Army says at least a dozen remaining terrorists may have dug into abandoned houses and cave-like features in the area. There is strong possibility of the area being mined too, army sources said.

The Indian army says five of its soldiers have been injured and 12 intruders have been killed, though none of their bodies have been found. Army says the bodies may have been carried back across the Line of Control.

Though Pakistan army has denied any links with the incident, the Indian army said that Pakistan's Border Action Team might be involved.

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The fighting began on September 24 when a group of at least 30 militants tried to cross over from Pakistan into India.

While the encounter was raging, Dr Manmohan Singh met Pakistani premier Nawaz Sharif in New York for the first time since Mr Sharif was elected in May.

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There have been over 120 ceasefire violations this year - highest in eight years - along the Line of Control, which, some say, has now turned into a Line of Conflict. The number of infiltration attempts from across the border has also doubled compared to last year.