Tanveer-Ul-Ahad , Srinagar: Three unidentified militants were killed and four soldiers injured in two separate encounters in Cherhare and Batengo areas of Sopore in Baramulla district of north Kashmir Thursday.
Army’s Srinagar based defence spokesman in a statement issued to GNS said that acting on a tip off, joint team of Army’s 27 RR, 9 PARA and SOG cordoned of Cherhare forest area of Bombai in Sopore.
“The joint team of forces challenged the suspects but they opened fire which was retaliated, triggering a gunfight,” he said. The encounter, according to the spokesman, intensified in the afternoon. One unidentified militant was killed in the encounter which is still going on.“We have recovered the body of the slain militant and some weapon from the site. We have called the police and are trying to ascertain the identity of slain”, he said.
Sources said that four army men also sustained bullet injuries during the encounter.All the injured personnel’s were evacuated and brought to Srinagar military hospital in an Army helicopter, sources said.In another encounter that started late Thursday evening, heavily armed militants opened fire on a joint search party of 22 Rashtriya Rifles and SOG in an Orchard at Mundaji in Sopore area, ensuing a fierce gunbattle.
Two militants were killed after an exchange of fire between them. The search operation is still going on in the area.
Meanwhile, a top militant believed to be a chief Commander of Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) along with his three associates, late last evening managed to give a slip to Police and Army at Aloosa village in Bandipora after a brief exchange of fire, sources said.
Sources said that militants managed to flee from the spot by taking advantage of darkness.