Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, July 23: A soldier was killed and another injured today in a fierce encounter between a group of infiltrators and Army at Furkian sector along Line of Control in Kupwara district of North Kashmir.
A fierce gun battle broke out at Gogledar in Furkian Sector of North Kashmir’s Kupwara district last night between infiltrating militants and Army near the LoC.
Sources said that Army spotted 3-4 infiltrators last night near the LoC fence in Furkian sector of Kupwara. The Army challenged them and they opened fire on the troops leading to a fierce encounter.
Two Army men of 1/3GR were injured in the gun battle and the encounter continued for around an hour. The injured have been identified as Hawaldar Anok Thapa and Hawaldar Kamal Pardana and both were shifted to 92 Base Hospital at BB Cantonment in Srinagar this morning. However, Hawaldar Anok Thapa was declared brought dead due to excessive blood loss.
The militant group is believed to have sneaked in last night only and were intercepted by the troops as soon as they crossed the fence.
The masive operation is on against them in Furkian sector to trace them out. More troops have been rushed to the area and more forest area was cordoned off.
A Defence spokesman said here: “Terrorists attempting to infiltrate were intercepted by alert troops in the intervening night of 22-23 July which led to an exchange of fire and forced infiltrators to flee back. In the ensuing gun fight one soldier sustained gun shot wound to which he unfortunately succumbed later. Search operation continues”.
Meanwhile, Army has also launched a massive search operation at Kanjalawan forests in Gurez sector of North Kashmir’s Bandipora district following reports of presence of a group of militants.
Sources said that Army received information about presence of a group of militants in the forest area and launched a massive operation early today. The operation was going on when reports last reached in. The group is believed to have infiltrated 2-3 days back and is hiding in the forest area.
Security forces are alert along the LoC as militants across are desperate to inflitrate into Kashmir ahead of winter. Sources said that over 200 highly trained militants are waiting on launch pads along the LoC in PoK for infiltration.
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