S.Tahir-ul Haq
Early Times Report
KUPWARA, Oct: A fierce gunfight ensued between security forces and militants on Saturday evening in Handwara area. Meanwhile, three militants escaped today after a long search operation in Lolab area of Kupwara district in North Kashmir.
A senior police official told early Times: "following inputs about the presence of a group of 3-4 heavily armed militants in Waderballa forests of Rajwar sector in Handwara area, Army's 21 RR and 6 RR have launched massive search operation to flush out the hiding militants.
The joint team of army, CRPF and SOG engaged the group in a gunfight, the official said.
Meanwhile heavily armed militants gave slip to security forces during a brief encounter in Lolab area of Kupwara district today.
"Acting on a specific information regarding presence of militants, a joint team of Army's 18 and 28 Rashtriya Rifles (RR), police and Special Operation Group (SOG) cordoned off the Warnow forests in Lolab area and started massive search operation to flush out the suspected militants from the area, a senior official told Early Times.
Official said that, a Joint team intensified the combing operation, later on militants opened heavy volume of fire on the search party which was retaliated triggering a brief encounter, said official, adding that taking advantage of darkness, about three to four militants managed to break the cordon and gave slip to the joint party.
Official further said that, the additional reinforcement from other parts of Kupwara district was called in to flush out the hiding militants from the area.
However it is learnt from the official that the intermittent exchange of fire was going on in the area, till the last reports came in and search operation has been intensified to nab the hiding militants at the earliest, the official added.
Pertinently, On Oct 5 four army soldiers of 6 RR were killed in an encounter at Tilpatren forests of Hafrudha area in Handwara thesil. |
