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Pakistani intrusion is almost at an end

Mukhtar Ahmad in Srinagar

In a major success, the army today cleared out the Pakistani intruders from the Batalik-Yaldore sector, Kashmir corps commander Lieutenant General Krishan Pal announced at a crowded press conference in Srinagar on returning from the area.

"All the significant heights which control this area are under our control and our troops are in fire contact with positions on the Line of Control," Lt Gen Pal said.

He said a huge quantity of arms, ammunition and other accessories had been recovered, including an American Stinger missile launcher. The launcher with the missile was brought to Srinagar in the corps commander's chopper and displayed to reporters at the corps headquarters.

Lt Gen Pal said troops had found several shallow graves in the Batalik sector in which the Pakistanis had hurriedly buried their dead.

The Indians have also recovered the bodies of two officers, Captain Kamal Sheikh and Major Iqbal, from Tiger Hill in the Drass sector. Lt Gen Pal said both were given an Islamic burial.

The general confirmed that the body of Major Mariappan Saravanan had been recovered from the Batalik area two days ago and flown to Srinagar. Major Sarvanan was one of the first casualties in the Kargil conflict, but it was not possible to recover his body until now.

He said troops have also evicted all the Pakistani intruders from the Drass sector, including Tiger Hill, except for small pockets hardly 500 metres inside the LoC. In the Mushko Valley, the army commander said, several significant heights have been re-captured, but added, "There are a few pockets still to be cleared."

He said civilian traffic on the highway has already resumed and between 1,500 and 2,000 vehicles, including private ones, are using it daily. "The road is reasonably safe. It is within the Pakistani artillery firing range, but there is no observed fire on it."

EARLIER REPORT:
India reclaims Batalik sector

The Kargil Crisis

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