Five unidentified terrorists, three Army soldiers and two counterinsurgency policemen were killed in a prolonged gun battle in Halmatpura village of north Kashmir’s Kupwara district on Wednesday. At least four security personnel have been injured in the encounter that began on Tuesday. Sources said the gunfight ended with heavy casualties but the area remained under cordon for combing operation till last reports came in from the area.

The slain soldiers have been identified as Mohammad Ashraf Rather and Naik Ranjeet Singh of 160 battalion Territorial Army and Havildar Zorawar Singh of 3 JAK Rifles while two cops of the Special Operations Group (SOG) were identified as Mohammad Yousuf Cheche (SPO) and Deepak Pandit. The cops and soldiers were critically wounded in the gunfight and succumbed to their injuries at a medical facility.

At least four security personnel — Sub-Inspector (SI) Harvinder Singh, Javaid Ahmad, one soldier and a paramilitary trooper — were injured. Sources said the gunfight erupted on Tuesday with high intensity as security forces cordoned off an area following specific information on presence of a large group of terrorists. The gunfight continued throughout the night and intensified on Wednesday morning resulting into heavy casualties. Four terrorists were killed in the initial salvo.

Sources said that one soldier Rifleman Abdul Majeed Bajad of 160 was missing on the encounter site. The Army has also pressed drones to track the terrorists. The Army also rushed reinforcement of 5 Bihar and 4 para commandos to the area.

Police chief Shesh Paul Vaid said that four bodies of terrorists were retrieved from the encounter site. Police said huge cache of arms and ammunition and other incriminating materials which include AK-47 rifles and grenades were recovered from the encounter site.

Police said the encounter was in progress in the dense forest area. “Owing to the thick vegetation and low visibility the security forces are mopping the area with due caution,” police said.

Courtesy: The Pioneer, Thursday, 22 March 2018 | Khursheed Wani | Srinagar