Hand-to-hand battle took place in Kupwara: Army

Srinagar: Army on Monday said that one of the deadliest operations along the Line of Control in Kupwara district of north Kashmir was a “hand-to hand battle” and a “daring” in which five militants were killed.

The 5-day long operation reached its peak on weekend when para commandos were heli dropped near the LoC.

“Indian army launched a daring operation at the Line of Control and engaged Pak supported infiltrators in a close quarter battle in heavy snow, neutralising the entire infiltrating batch of five,” Defence ministry spokesman Col Rajesh Kalia said in a statement issued here.

“Four soldiers under the command of a Junior Commissioned Officer from one of the most professional Para SF Units were heli dropped near the LoC after information on the infiltrators was received. An intense hand to hand battle ensued and all five (militants) were eliminated,” he added.

He, however, said that army lost five of its best soldiers, three on the site and two more succumbed while they were airlifted to a nearby military hospital.

“The IA Special Forces squad was led by Subedar Sanjeev Kumar and included Havildar Davendra Singh, Paratrooper Bal Krishan, Paratrooper Amit Kumar and Paratrooper Chhatrapal Singh,” the spokesman said, adding, “Indian Army salutes the brave hearts killed in Action and shall continue to protect its borders from inimical forces at all costs at all times.”