Fayaz Bukhari
SRINAGAR, May 26: Army today foiled a major infiltration attempt in North Kashmir’s Nowgam sector and killed three militants so far while operation against other members of the group is going on.
A senior Police officer said that three militants were killed in encounter at Nowgam sector of Handwara in North Kashmir’s Kupwara district today. He said that Army’s 35 RR intercepted a group of five to six infiltrators this morning near Toot Mari Gali (TMG) sector also called Nowgam sector.
Sources said that the militant group had infiltrated last night and crossed the fence but they were intercepted after army noticed the suspicious movement in the forest area.
The group of militants after being challenged opened fire triggering an encounter. “Two militants have been killed during the initial exchange of firefight”, sources said, adding that the remaining members of the group later hide themselves inside the dense bushes of the nearby Marsari area.
The Army with the help of sniffer dogs and the joint team of security forces again intercepted the remaining members of the group and later engaged them in a gunfight. “In the encounter one more militant was killed”, he said, adding that the cordon-and-search operation in the area is still going on to track down the other members of the group.
“All the three militant bodies have been recovered along with as many AK-47 rifles and other war like stores”, he said.
Earlier, additional reinforcement of 18 JAT and Ist Naga was rushed to the area for assisting the Army in the operation.
In the meantime, security forces today launched a cordon-and-search operation in Harwan area of Srinagar.
A police official said that SOG and Army’s 5 RR launched a search operation after receiving an input about the presence of militants in Dhara belt of Harwan.
“Security forces conducted extensive searches in the area for about over one hour but there was no contact with militants,” he said, adding that the operation was later called off.
Militants this evening hurled a grenade on Army’s 50 RR at Kakpora in Pulwama district of South Kashmir. An Army cook was injured in the grenade attack.
Army immediately launched a massive operation against the militants responsible for the grenade attack. However, no one was arrested. The condition of the injured Army man is stable.
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