4 security personnel killed in Kupwara gunfight with militants

Mangalore Today News Network

Kashmir, Mar 21, 2018 : Militants shot dead two policemen and two army soldiers on Wednesday in a gunfight continuing since the day before in north Kashmir’s Kupwara district. Security forces killed at least four militants on Tuesday.

 

A police spokesperson identified the slain policemen as special police officer (SPO) Mohammad Yousf, of Kachama village of Kupwara, and selection grade constable Deepak Thesoo, of Nagrota of Jammu region.

A Srinagar-based army spokesperson confirmed the death of two soldiers in the encounter. Details are awaited from the army regarding the identification of the soldiers.

According to the army, the gun battle began after the militants fired at a military patrol in the Arampura-Halmatpura area of the frontier district, about 110km from Srinagar.

“Our troops acted swiftly, and contact was established around 3.30pm,” said an army officer, asking not be identified.

Security forces launched a “cordon-and-search operation” in the forests in the area on Tuesday afternoon following specific inputs that militants were hiding there.

According to a police spokesman, contingents of army and police cordoned off the area and shot dead about four militants.

This is second such gunfight in a week after three militants were killed on the outskirts of Srinagar on March 15 and 16. Two of the militants — Rasiq Nabi Bhat of Tral and Shabir Dar of Awantipora — were Kashmiris and the third was said to be from Pakistan.


courtesy:HT