SRINAGAR : Search operation was resumed with the first light this morning in the woods of frontier district of Kupwara, where a senior Army officer was killed and five other security personnel were injured in a militant attack yesterday.
Official sources said here that additional troops of Para Commandos, troops from Rashtriya Rifles (RR) and Special Operation Group (SOG) of Jammu and Kashmir police have joined the operation in the woods at Sabhaya Benak forest Manigah area of Haihama in the frontier district of Kupwara against the militants, who had infiltrated from Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) in the last week of October. The entire forest area has been sealed from all sides to foil any attempt by militants to escape. They said the operation was halted last night due to darkness since the forest is very dense. However, with the first light this morning, troops have resumed the operation against the militants, reportedly three in the woods. Despite all odds, particularly bad weather, operation continued against the militants, they said. The first contact with the militants was established on November 13 when an encounter took place in which two security personnel were injured and a militant was reportedly killed.
There was also brief encounter between militants and security forces on November 16 but the militants managed to escape in the woods.
However, there was fresh encounter yesterday in which Commanding Officer (CO) of 41 RR Santosh Mahadik was killed and five personnel, including a SOG personnel, were injured. The injured have been hospitalized.
Col Mahadik was second senior officer killed in Jammu and Kashmir during past one week.
A Major was killed after he came under a snow avalanche at Siachan Glacier last week. (UNI)
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