Srinagar: Three soldiers and two SOG personnel were killed along with five in a gunfight between them militants in the forest of Halmatpora in north Kashmir’s Kupwara.
A police spokesman said that on receiving specific inputs, Police Kupwara along with 41 RR, 160 TA, 98 Bn CRPF and 162 Bn CRPF launched a search operation in the area on Tuesday afternoon.
While the search was going on the hiding militants fired upon the search party and the fire was retaliated by the forces ensuing an encounter, the spokesman said.
“In the ongoing encounter, so far 05 (militants) have been neutralised; all of whom are understood to be (foreigners) and part of a freshly infiltrated group,” he said.
In the process huge cache of arms and ammunition and other incriminating materials which include AK 47 rifles, grenades, etc were recovered from the encounter site, the spokesman said.
The spokesman however confirmed only four casualties to government forces even as army said three soldiers and two policemen were killed. “Two policemen Sgct Deepak Thusoo and SPO Mohd Yousuf and two army personnel Sep Ashraf Rather of 160 TA & NK Ranjeet Kholka of 05 Bihar were (killed)” the spokesman added.
Earlier in the exchange of fire one SPO namely Javaid Ahmad was also injured and subsequently shifted to hospital for treatment. “His condition is stable.”
“It is pertinent to mention here that the encounter is in progress in the dense forests area. Owing to the thick vegetation and low visibility the forces are mopping the area with due caution,” he said.
