Soldier, militant killed in Kashmir encounter

“The encounter broke out yesterday morning after the soldiers who were manning the Line of Control (LoC) intercepted a militant group believed to be infiltrators at Katwara forest area near Jet Gali, 4 km away from the fence, in Machhil sector Tuesday morning,” said a senior police officer.

After being challenged, the suspected militants opened fire on the forces triggering off an encounter, he said.

"In the day long gunfight yesterday, five soldiers have sustained injuries and have been immediately airlifted to army's 92 base hospital for treatment", he said.

Among the five injured, Sepoy Lakashman Das according to official sources, is in critical conditions as he sustained bullet injuries in his chest.

"Soon after the gunfight broke out, the additional reinforcement of para-troopers has been rushed to the area and joined the operation," police said.

Last evening, the exchange of gunfire raged in the area with the group of militants resulting in injuries to one more soldier identified as Signalman Ajay Choudhary.

Choudhary was immediately airlifted to army's 92 base hospital where he succumbed to injuries today, he said.

Joint team of para- commandos and 56 RR launched the search operation and recovered a militant body from the spot on Wednesday early, he said, adding that the operation has been launched to track down the militant group.

When reports last came in, the search operation in the area is still going on.


(Reporting by Saleem Iqbal Qadri)