At least 3 militants killed in Kupwara gun battle
Security forces had launched a cordon and operation in the forest area after specific inputs of militant presence.
Three to four militants were killed in a gun battle with security forces in north Kashmir’s Kupwara district on Tuesday.
The encounter was still in progress in Halmatpora area at the time this report was filed.
While an army officer said four terrorists have been killed so far, director general of police SP Vaid pegged the number at three in a Twitter post. A senior district police officer said the exact figure can be quoted only after the bodies of the slain militants are recovered.
According to the army, the gun battle began after the militants fired at an area domination patrol in Arampura-Halmatpura area. “Our troops acted swiftly, and contact was established around 1530 hours,” an official said.
Security forces had launched a cordon-and-search operation in the forested area following specific inputs of militant presence.
Three militants were killed in an encounter on the outskirts of Srinagar on the intervening night of March 15 and 16. Two of the slain militants – Rasiq Nabi Bhat and Shabir Dar – were found to be Kashmiris while the third was identified as Pakistan resident Hamas.