SRINAGAR: Three security force personnel, including two policemen and an Army jawan, were killed and as many were injured in an encounter with militants in the forest area of frontier Kashmir district of Kupwara, where four ultras were reportedly killed on Tuesday.
“The search operation by security forces was suspended last night due to darkness only to be resumed with the first light this morning in the woods in Halmatpora in Kupwara,” official sources said.
They said fresh contact was established with militants this morning, adding four policemen and two Army jawans were injured in the exchange of fire. “The injured were evacuated from the area and rushed to a hospital, where two policemen and an Army jawan succumbed,” they said.
They said the deceased policemen were identified as SPO Mohammad Yousuf and Selection Grade Constable Deepak Thesoo. However, defence ministry spokesperson was not available to confirm the death of the Army jawan.
They said search operation was still going when the reports last came in. They said that following specific information about presence of militants in Halmatpora check forests, a joint search operation was launched by Special Operations Group (SOG) of Jammu and Kashmir Police, Army and CRPF in the area on Tuesday.
However, when security forces were moving towards a particular area in the forest, militants hiding there, fired at them with automatic weapons. “Security forces also retaliated ensuing in an encounter,” they said.
Four militants were killed on Tuesday in the exchange of fire, they added. However, no dead body has been recovered so far from the forest area.
A police official of Kupwara, when contacted, said that he can’t confirm the killings as no dead body has been recovered so far from the forest area.
Sources said security forces have also launched a search operation in the adjacent forest areas, including Gulgam and Awoora, which is connected to Halmathpora forests. (agencies)
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