Fayaz Bukhari
Srinagar, Apr 26: At least four militants of Hizbul Mujahideen were killed in an ongoing encounter in Kulgam district of South Kashmir tonight.
Inspector General of Police Kashmir, Vijay Kumar, told Excelsior that the operation against a group of atleast 5 militants was launched by the security forces including 9 RR of Army, CRPF and Kulgam Police this evening at Asthal village of Kulgam. He said that four militants were killed so far and the gun battle was on. The identification of the killed militants is being ascertained.
He said that searches in the area will be conducted in the morning and the area will remain cordoned off during the night.
Sources said that militants were in a School building outside the village when the security forces launched an operation against them. The militants when cornered fired at the troops who retaliated leading to a gun battle in which four militants were killed.
They said that the gun battle is on and there may be one or more militants still hiding in the area and they were firing on the troops. They said that an Army officer was injured in the encounter and he was evacuated to hospital for treatment.
Security forces have achieved major successes against the militants this year and so far at least 55 were killed in the operation since January.
The operations against militants continued even during past one month of lockdown and around two dozen militants were killed by the security forces during this period.
The killed militants included top commanders of Hizbul Mujahideen, Laskhar-e-Toiba, Jaish-e-Mohammad and Ansarul Gazwatul Hind.
Army has also tightened its vigil along the Line of Control (LoC) with Pakistan in North Kashmir to foil infiltration attempts by the militants. Army has foiled a major infiltration bid in Kupwara sector recently in which five militants were shot dead. The operation lasted for several days during which Army also suffered five fatal casualties.
There have been frequent ceasefire violations along the LoC by Pakistan and Army says that Pakistan is trying to push in militants during these violations and giving them cover fire.
The patrolling along the LoC has been intensified and all the exit and entry points to the forests in North Kashmir are being monitored so as to prevent militants from infiltrating into Kashmir.
Follow our WhatsApp channel
