Srinagar, July 24: Three militants have been killed and three soldiers injured so far in an ongoing encounter in Shokbaba Forest area of North Kashmir’s Bandipora.
In a statement the police said that on a specific input generated by Police regarding presence of militants in the forest area of Shokbaba Sumlar-Aragam area of Bandipora, a joint cordon and search operation was launched by Bandipora Police, 13 RR, 14RR, Para ( SF), MARCOS and CRPF in the said area.
The statement further stated that, during the search operation, the hiding militants fired on the joint search party. The fire was retaliated leading to an encounter. In the initial exchange of fire, one army personnel of 14RR received gunshot injuries. He was immediately evacuated to hospital for treatment of his injuries.
In the ensuing encounter, so far three unidentified militants were killed.
LeT militant who had ex-filtrated Via Wagah in 2018 killed in Bandipora woods: IGP Kashmir
One of the three militants killed in gunfight with security forces in Bandipora forests has been identified as Sariq Altaf Baba, officials said on Sunday.
A resident of Bandipora, Sariq had ex-filtrated via Wagah border in 2018 and had infiltrated recently through Line of Control, Inspector General of Police Kashmir Vijay Kumar told GNS.
Sariq, he said, was affiliated with Lashker-e-Toiba militant outfit. The other two militants killed in the gunfight at Sumlar-Aragam area are foreigners, the top police officer of Kashmir added.
The gunfight, according to Police, had ensued after militants opened fire on joint team of Police, Army’s 13RR, 14RR, Marcos, Para Special Force and CRPF in the woods.
An official said that the search operation has been resumed this morning in Bandipora after yesterday’s gunfight as there could be more militants hiding.
This post was published on July 24, 2021