4 militants, 2 Army jawans killed near LoC in Kupwara

Fayaz Bukhari

Srinagar, Aug 24: Four militants and two Army personnel were killed and three soldiers including an officer were injured in two separate gun battles near Line of Control (LoC) at Keran sector and Kalaroos in North Kashmir’s Kupwara district today.
A defence spokesman said that Army eliminated four militants in Kalaroos sector of Kupwara during which one Army personnel also lost his life. He said that in another operation near the LoC in Keran sector, one Army jawan was killed.
Sources said that a group of 6-7 infiltrators had sneaked in by crossing the LoC in Z-Gali in Machil sector yesterday. The group after reaching Dhok Behak area of Nunwani in Kalaroos was intercepted by the Army’s 41 RR and 45 RR.
Sources said that the militants when challenged by troops opened fire upon them and the fire was retaliated leading to a fierce gun battle early this morning.
Four militants and a soldier were killed and three Army men including an officer were injured in the gun battle. The two injured soldiers have been identified as Naik Vinod Kumar of 45 RR and Naik Niraj Kumar Singh of 57 RR. They were immediately airlifted to Army’s 92 base hospital in Badambagh Cantonment in Srinagar where Niraj Kumar succumbed to injuries.
Army’s 18 RR and 28 RR was also called in and they have cordoned off the all forest routes so as to prevent other members of the group from fleeing. The operation against the group is going on.
And in the meantime, an Army jawan was killed after a group of militants attacked Army’s patrol along LoC in Keran sector of North Kashmir’s Kupwara district last night.
Sources said that a group of militants opened fire upon Army’s patrol of 23 Grenadier at Mundian forest in Keran sector late last night. One Army jawan identified as Sepoy Rahul Kumar, 22, resident of Bulandsahar in Utter Pradesh was critically injured in the attack. He was immediately shifted to Army hospital in Drugmulla in Kupwara district where from he was airlifted to Army’s 92 base hospital here in Srinagar. However, in the morning he succumbed to injuries.
Sources said that the militant group that was on the PoK side of the fence fled back under the cover of darkness. Army in the morning conducted searches of the area.
The defence spokesman said that Northern Army Commander Lt Gen DS Hooda, paid rich tributes to the two brave hearts for the valour and courage displayed by them in the line of duty. “Our hearts go out to the families and we pray to the Almighty to give them strength to bear this irreparable loss with fortitude”, the General said.

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