SRINAGAR: One more militant was killed in a fierce gunfight near Line of Control in Machil area of north Kashmir’s Kupwara district on Sunday, taking the death toll to seven. Among those killed to include an army officer, two army soldiers and a BSF trooper besides three militants, two of whom were killed in the earlier phase of the gunfight. Also, two soldiers were injured in the gunfight, the officials added.
“At about 0100h BSF patrol noticed suspicious movement near the Anti-Infiltration Obstacle System (AIOS) (LoC Fence), about 3.5 KM from the LoC. Firefight ensued in which one (militant) was killed. A BSF soldier was Killed in action (KIA). Firefight stopped at 0400h,” defence ministry spokesman based in Srinagar Colonel Rajesh Kalia told news agency GNS.
“More troops were rushed to the area. (militant) the movement was tracked by surveillance devices.
“Contact was re-established at 1020h when the heavy fire was drawn by own search parties approximately 1.5 km from the LoC,” he said, adding, “In the ensuing firefight two more (militants) were killed. Own troops suffered three KIA and two injured. The injured soldiers have been evacuated.”
As reported earlier, the army officer Lt Aujla and 2 soldiers were killed and two other soldiers got seriously injured in around noon in the gunfight that ensued early Sunday morning when Border Security Forces intercepted a group of infiltrators in Machil area. A militant and a BSF soldier from 169 battalion, Constable Sarkar, were killed in the initial phase and later army joined the operation.
Meanwhile, Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha paid tributes to the security personnel who were killed during an encounter with militants in the Machil sector of Kupwara district.
“The Lt Governor saluted the supreme sacrifice of the jawans and lauded the courage and valour displayed by them while protecting the integrity and sovereignty of the country,” said an official statement.
The Nation will always remain indebted to brave hearts who have laid down their lives for providing a safe and secure environment to our people, he added.
The Lt Governor offered his deepest condolences to the families of the slain and prayed for eternal peace to the departed souls.
