Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, June 14: Army today intercepted a group of heavily armed militants in Machhil sector along LoC in North Kashmir’s Kupwara district and five soldiers were injured in the fierce gunbattle that is going on.
A senior official said that Army’s 56 Rashtriya Rifles (RR) intercepted 4-5 member militant group in the forests of Macchil this morning. The group is believed to have infiltrators at Katwara forest area near Z-Gali in Machhil sector two days ago.
As the troops challenged them, the militants opened fire on the Army triggering a fierce encounter. Five soldiers were injured in the gun battle and they have been airlifted to Army’s 92 Base Hospital at Badami Bagh Cantonment for treatment.
Among the five injured two has been identified as Sepoy Nikhil and Sepoy Lakashman Das. Das according to sources is critical as he sustained bullet injuries in his chest.
Additional reinforcement of para-commandos have been rushed to the area to assist 56-RR. The group is said to be heavily armed and well trained and are troops have now cordoned off vast forest area to prevent them from fleeing the area.
In the meantime, Army and Police have launched a massive operation in North Kashmir’s Bandipora district after a heavily armed 6 member militant group belonging to LeT was spotted in the area.
Army’s 14, 27 RR, 7-para commandos and Special Operations Group of Jammu and Kashmir Police launched a massive search operation in Chuntmulla, Kudara, Sirinder, Kutapathri and Gabipathri areas of Bandipora today.
However, the contact with the militant group was yet to be established when reports last reached in.
Bandipora that was militancy free for several years is again being used by LeT as a transit route for last one year. Some of the militants who infiltrate from Kupwara and other sectors use Bandipora for their transportation to South Kashmir.
Police have detained four persons including a former militant in connection with an attack on police party at Bonigam Qazigund on Sunday.
Four persons identified as Shamim Dev, a former militant, Bilal Ahmad, Mohammad Shafi and Mohammad Amin, all residents of Bonigam, have been detained and are being questioned by SOG.
Four cops were injured after militants opened fire on their vehicle at Bonigam in Qazigund on Sunday. The cops were travelling in a Tata Sumo when they came under attack.
Militants tonight fired at a Police Post in Qoimoh Kulgam. Police returned the fire. However, militants fled and an operation was launched against the militants.
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