Militant, three jawans killed in encounters in Kashmir

Aijaz Bhat, SP of Kupwara district, said, “upon getting an information from the nearby forest area about the militant’s presence, the army launched a cordon and search operation”. He said they were instrumental in creating an air of fear among the local Panchs. Militants here are at advantage and there is always a possibility that you may be targeted from any direction.

Army during an encounter in this file image. Sources said a contact between militants and security forces was established on Sunday night.

The encounter in Hafruda forest was still raging at the time of going to the Press.

In the encounter one army man sustained a gunshot wound and was immediately evacuated and his condition is said to be stable.

Suspected rebels killed three soldiers during firing overnight near the heavily militarised border dividing Kashmir between India and Pakistan, an army spokesman said on Monday. The Army has also pressed helicopters into service to trace the militants. 18 RR and special operations group in Kupwara are combing the area to smoke out the remaining hiding terrorists.

The terrorists have been identified as Adil Pathan and Burmi, who were Pakistani nationals, said the police.

Deputy inspector general of police, south Kashmir range, Nitesh Kumar told dna it was a very clean and surgically conducted operation.

One soldier was injured in the encounter, which occurred during search operations in Hari, a community in the region’s Pulwama district.