31 militants have sneaked into J&K: Army

A group of 100-120 men, including 31 militants, have crossed into the state through the Gurez sector in northern Kashmir, the Army said on Saturday.

"Thirty-one militants along with 40-45 porters, guides and other helpers had crossed the Line of Control," Brigadier Gurmeet Singh told reporters in Srinagar.

He said some of the militants, who have undergone intensive training, were 'drugged' and pushed through the difficult terrain by their handlers. Brigadier Singh said that the wire obstacles that were erected to check any infiltration bid had got submerged in the heavy snow, making the crossing easy.

He said that large number of militants were waiting across the border to sneak in the state. The Army also alleged that "(Pakistan's) armed forces across the border do support them (militants)."

The support was evident from the communication and other equipment being used by the militants, he said. The Army also produced an arrested Pakistani militant, from the Hizbul Mujahideen outfit, before the media.

The militant Syed Moinullah Shah, who claimed to be a native of the North West Frontier Province, said the Taliban had no role in Kashmir militancy.