Srinagar, October 28: A junior Commissioned Officer (JCO) and a militant of Lashkar-e-Toiba outfit were killed in an ongoing encounter at Handwara area in north Kashmir’s Kupwara district on Tuesday.
Official sources told that acting on a specific information about the presence of 3 to 4 LeT militants at Waderballa forest area in Zatchaldara, army’s 21 RR, 32 RR and 30 RR had jointly cordoned off the whole area on October 13. “On the same day, as such the forces intensified the searches in the forest area; the hiding militants attacked the army resulting in killing of a soldier. The militants while taking advantage of the dense forest managed to escape from the spot.
Since then, the search operation along with the reinforcement of army’s 14 RR, 27 RR, 22 RR and 52 RR against the hiding militants continued in the area, they said. The joint team of the army had searched a large portion of the forest area.
Today at around 6:15 a.m, the militants hiding in the area opened heavy fire upon the search party, they said, adding that the firefight was retailed by the forces ensuing a fierce gunfight.
“During the initial gunfight, a militant got killed and a JCO of 30 RR sustained serious bullet woundsâ€, they said.
They said the forces could not manage to evacuate the injured JCO from the spot due to heavy firing by militants. “The JCO identified as Rajesh Kumar of 14 Mahar who has been earlier attached with 30 RR later died instantly on the spotâ€.
When reports last came in the firefight was suspended and the outer cordon has been tightened, they said, adding that the operation will be resumed tomorrow early in the morning.
Army’s Srinagar based defence spokesman in a statement issued to news agency said that based on specific intelligence about presence of militants in Waderbala Forest near village Petta, Handwara a coordinated joint operation was launched by Rashtriya Rifles units of Army and the SOG resulting into killing of one militant.
“The identity of the militant is yet to be ascertained. During the exchange of fire one Junior Commissioned Officer of Army was injured. He was evacuated from the site but latter succumbed to his injuries making supreme sacrifice in the line of dutyâ€, the spokesman said.
