An unidentified militant has been killed and one soldier injured in an ongoing gun battle today at Waderballa forest area in Handwara of north Kashmir’s Kupwara district.
A senior police officer told a Srinagar-based news agency that the army’s 21 Rashtriya Rifles (RR) had cordoned off the Waderballa forest area near Rajwar, a village located in Handwara Tehsil of Kupwara district in Jammu & Kashmir, following specific information that militants were hiding in the area.
The forces fired several warning shots towards the suspected spot. But after intensifying the cordon-and-search operation, the officer said, the militants opened fire and triggered off an encounter.
UPDATE: One terrorist killed in an ongoing encounter with security personnel in Handwara in Kupwara district of J&K.
— ANI (@ANI_news) July 4, 2016
A soldier has suffered minor injuries and was immediately taken to a local hospital.
This is not the first time in this season that heavy gun battle happens. Earlier on June 28, a fierce encounter in Lolab area of Kupwara district had left one militant dead.
Last week, a top commander of Hizbul Mujahideen militant outfit was killed in an encounter with security forces in Kupwara.
This incident comes just days after eight CRPF men were killed by terrorists, while 22 were injured in an encounter in Pampore on Sunday.
(Input from PTI)