JAMMU AND KASHMIR

Five militants, four security men killed as encounter continues in Kupwara

Encounter highlights gaps in Army's vigil along LoC; militants sneak in nearly 8 kms

Kashmir encounter [FILE] The encounter between militants and security forces that has been going on since Tuesday | Reuters

Four security personnel and five militants were killed so far in the ongoing encounter at Halmatpora area in Kupwar. The encounter had started on Tuesday afternoon.

On Tuesday, the Army and Special Operations Group (SOG) of police had killed three militants, without suffering any casualty. On Wednesday, two more militants were killed, but two SOG men and two Army men lost their lives in the exchange of fire at Check Fetah Khan forests.

According to police sources, the militants, who had survived the Army and SOG action, on Tuesday were hiding in the forest when the security forces zeroed in on them.

The slain SOG men were identified as Deepak Pandit and Muhammad Yousuf. The slain Army soldiers were identified as Mohammad Ashraf and Ranjeet Kholka from Bihar.

A police spokesman said the militants had freshly infiltrated from across the Line of Control.

Earlier in the exchange of fire one special police official (SPO) Javaid Ahmad was also injured and he was subsequently shifted to hospital for treatment. His condition is stable, a police spokesman said.

''It is pertinent to mention here that the encounter is in progress in the dense forests area. Owing to the thick vegetation and low visibility the security forces are mopping the area with due caution,'' he said.

Sources said an intense exchange of fire was going on between the security forces and the remaining militant.

The encounter has reached the last stage, but the last militant is still responding to the forces' firing intermittently, sources said.

Udhampure based defence spokesman colonel N.N. Joshi confirmed two Army soldiers and two SOG men were martyred in the ongoing operation at Halmatpora.

Army spokesman for 15 Corps colonel Rajesh Kalia said the encounter started on Tuesday 3.30 pm when the area domination team of the Army came under fire from the militants.