Srinagar: Three Army jawans have been killed in a fierce fire fight with militants raging in woods of Handwara area in frontier district of Kupwara. One soldier is reportedly missing. A defence spokesperson here confirming it said, “Unfortunately, we have lost three of our jawans. Operation is still underway.”
The clash comes close on the heels of the security forces killing a militant in Dardpora area of neaighbouring Lolab valley and two Jaish-e-Muhammad militants including a top commander in a separate gun battle in Tral area of southern Pulwama district on Sunday.
Reports from Handwara said that the Army’s 6 Rashtriya Rifles on Sunday afternoon launched a massive operation in Tilpathri village, 7-km down of Hafrooda forests of Handwara in Kupwara district after they found movement of five to six heavily armed militants in the area.
Police officials here said that the Army had after challenging the militants opened fire at them. Militants returned the fire triggering the encounter but while the exchange was on they (militants) managed to move towards a nearby Nallah. The troops chased them but after another brief exchange of fire the militants slipped into Hafrooda woods. Army reinforcements laid siege to the forest area and in subsequent fire fight three soldiers laid down their lives, the officials said.
Police sources said that the militants were roaming in the area for the past two days.
