Soldier, militant killed in gunfight in J&K’s Kupwara

Adil Akhzer

Srinagar, July 24

A soldier and a terrorist were killed in an overnight encounter in north Kashmir’s Kupwara district, officials said on Wednesday. Sources said

a non-commissioned officer who was critically injured in the ongoing encounter in Trumkhan forests in border district of Kupwara succumbed to his injuries.

The Srinagar-based Chinar Corps and the police had launched an anti-terrorist operation in the Kowut area of Kupwara following information about the possible Soldier, militant killed in gunfight in J&K’s Kupwara presence of terrorists.

The forces observed a suspicious movement and established contact with the hiding enemy. In response, the terrorists opened indiscriminate fire. “In the ensuing gunfight, one terrorist was eliminated and an NCO injured. The operation is in progress,” the Army said in the morning. Late on Wednesday, officials said the injured soldier succumbed to his injuries.

The fresh encounter is the fourth such incident in Kupwara district since May this year. Last week, the Army had foiled an infiltration bid along the Line of Control (LoC) in the district, killing two militants. Sources in the security establishment said they were keeping a tight vigil along the LoC as there were high chances of infiltration attempts amid the melting of snow.