In a major security development along the Line of Control (LoC), the Indian Army successfully foiled an infiltration attempt in the Mendhar sector of Poonch district, Jammu and Kashmir, during the early hours of Monday.

According to official sources, troops deployed along the LoC maintained a high state of vigilance and intercepted suspicious movement near Dabbi village in the Balakote area, which falls under the sensitive Mendhar sector.

A group of terrorists, believed to have crossed over from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), attempted to infiltrate into Indian territory under the cover of darkness and rugged terrain.

Upon detecting the intrusion, the Indian Army troops immediately engaged the suspected infiltrators, leading to a heavy exchange of gunfire. The skirmish, which began before dawn, continued for several hours, though no casualties were reported on either side during the initial engagement.

The Army confirmed that the infiltration bid was successfully repelled, preventing the terrorists from breaching Indian defences or advancing further into Indian territory. Troops on high alert ensured that the attempt did not escalate into a larger security incident, reflecting both operational preparedness and swift tactical response on the ground.

Following the exchange of fire, the Army cordoned off the entire area and launched a massive search and sanitization operation to ensure that no infiltrators remained hidden in the forested or mountainous stretches of the Balakote area.

Additional troops have been deployed to plug potential escape routes and to trace any terrorist footprints, while surveillance assets, including drones and thermal imaging devices, have reportedly been pressed into service.

These preventive measures are part of a standard counter-infiltration strategy aimed at securing the region against multiple attempts that often occur in clusters.

Officials highlighted that infiltration bids traditionally intensify in this season, ahead of winter months, as terrorists seek to cross the LoC before high-altitude passes are sealed by snow. Security forces have, therefore, been maintaining heightened vigil across infiltration-prone sectors of Poonch, Rajouri, Baramulla, and Kupwara.

The latest incident in Mendhar comes just days after a separate infiltration attempt in the Uri sector, where heavy firing had similarly taken place and one soldier tragically lost his life in the line of duty. These back-to-back incidents indicate a renewed push by terrorist handlers across the border to destabilize the security environment in Jammu and Kashmir.

The thwarted infiltration attempt also underscores the continued threat posed by cross-border terrorism and the challenges faced by security forces deployed along the LoC, where infiltration routes are aided by treacherous terrain, thick forests, and frequent ceasefire violations.

The Indian Army has assured that all such attempts will be met with a firm response. Meanwhile, local civilian populations near the Balakote-Mendhar belt have been advised to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity.

Comprehensive search operations remain ongoing, and defence officials have not ruled out the possibility of recoveries of arms, ammunition, or other logistical material potentially abandoned by the fleeing infiltrators.

This latest infiltration bid highlights the resilience and readiness of Indian forces in safeguarding the LoC, even as they continue to face increasing infiltration attempts engineered from across the border.

The situation in Poonch remains tense but firmly under the control of security forces, and the ongoing operation is being closely monitored at both divisional and corps levels.