Encounter between security forces and militants underway in Jammu and Kashmir

An operation in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kupwara district to flush out militants hiding in the forest area continued for the 16th day on Saturday as the guerrillas eluded the security forces, police said.

“Fresh firing has been reported from the Manigah forests of Kupwara this morning between security forces and the militants holed up there”, a police official said.

They added that contact with the hiding militants was established early today and a fierce gunfight was going on. He said that additional reinforcements are being deployed in the area to prevent the militants from escaping.

The official said search operations were still in progress. In a brief gunfight, militants had killed a Lt Colonel on Nov 14 before giving the forces a slip.

The operation is underway and the search has intensified with the main agenda to track down the militants responsible for the killing of Commanding Officer, 41 RR, Col Santosh Mahadik and another soldier. One unidentified militant has also been killed.

As per defence sources, a group of militants is believed to have infiltrated this side of Line of Control (LoC) on October 31.