Soldier killed in J&K

Since Saturday night, four militants and two soldiers have been killed and three army men were injured in encounters at Kalaroos and Keran in the district.

Official sources said  that Army’s 18 RR and 28 RR had jointly cordoned the routes connecting the Nunwani Kalaroos forest area after 2 or 3 militants managed to escape from the Nunwani encounter site.

“Today morning the joint team of forces intercepted the militant group at Zoita Top near Bara Gali in between Nunwani and Gagel forest areas”, they said.

Once the joint army party chased the militants, they opened heavy-fire upon the forces resulting in injuries to two army men, they said.

The injured army men were identified as Ghulam Ahmad (rifle man -160 TA) and Dhanjay (lance naik -28 RR).

Both the injured were immediately shifted to 168 Military Hospital in Drugmulla where from Dhanjay was airlifted to army’s 92 base hospital in Srinagar, they said.

Dhanjay, later in the day succumbed to injuries due to grave bullet injuries. A senior defence official while confirming the death of the soldier said that the operation in the area is still going on.

In another similar incident, an unidentified militant was killed in an ongoing operation at Kundan Nar forest area near Line of Control (LoC) in Keran sector in the district, the official said, adding that army’s 23 Grenadier had intercepted the militant group on Saturday night.

The official said: “forces have been asked to remain vigilant in Bandipora, Sopore, Zaloora, Handwara, Vilgam, Chokibal, Keran and Tanghdar forests. Keeping in view the apprehensions of fresh infiltration army has been advised to launch combing operation in the respective areas.” 

(Reporting by Saleem Iqbal Qadri)