Fierce gunfight rages between militants, troops in north Kashmir

Srinagar, Jul 15 (KMW) A fierce encounter was on between troops and militants, who had held a woman hostage in the frontier district of Kupwara.
Defence ministry spokesman Lt Colonel J S Brar told that the Army launched a search operation at Makdoom Mohalla, Lolab in the frontier district of Kupwara near the Line of Control (LoC) early this morning following a tip-off about the presence of militants.
He said when troops were moving towards a particular area, militants opened fire with automatic weapons.
Lt Col Brar said there are reports that some people were held hostage by the militants.
However, he said, there is a confirmed report that one woman was held hostage by the militants, reportedly all foreigners.
There could be three to five militants present in the area; he said adding efforts were being made to rescue the woman hostage before launching a final assault.
Official sources said additional troops; including state police personnel were rushed to the area to further tighten the cordon around it.
They said the militants surrounded by troops are believed to have infiltrated from across the border recently.
The operation was on when the reports last came in, they said.
According to ground reports, the joint team, they said, zeroed in the house belonging to Ghulam Mohammad Mir where the militants were hiding.
Mir is said to be a former employee of the food and supplies department. The encounter was on when the last reports came in.
Latest reports suggest that three militants have been killed and two soldiers have been wounded so far.