Friday, May 6 2005 20:07 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Jammu: Nearly 2,000 militants are waiting to cross the Line of Control (LoC) to enter Jammu and Kashmir, Army official, who apprehend a spurt in infiltration by ultras with the melting of snow, said today.

"Infiltration is likely to increase in view of the melting of snow on mountain ranges along the LoC in J&K. As many as 1,800 to 2,000 militants are stationed on launching pads along the LoC, ready to cross to this side to keep the pot of militancy boiling," officials said.

In the past 10 days, 24 militants have been killed in four major infiltration bids along LoC, they said adding the trend shows infiltration has begun to increase.

"They could not cross over to J&K due to heavy snowfall in winters and now in the coming days there would be more infiltration attempts," they said, adding troops have been put on alert.

On April 26, four militants were killed at Balonie Mendhar in Poonch, they said. It was followed by killing of 10 militants in Kupwarj area near LoC in Kashmir Valley on 28 April and four more were killed in Mendhar area on April 30.

On May 3, six militants of Lashker-e-Toiba were killed, as they were trying to infiltrate at Krishnagati, Poonch, they said.