Five jawans, as many terrorists die in operation in North Kashmir

Security forces suffered heavy casualties when five personnel, including two policemen and three soldiers, were killed in an encounter that entered into its second day on Wednesday in Halmatpora village in North Kashmir's Kupwara district. Five terrorists have also been killed.

The encounter started on Tuesday afternoon when terrorists attacked an army patrol at Halmatpora. Troops immediately cordoned off the area and launched a search operation. An encounter ensued when terrorists fired at the search party. Three militants were killed on Tuesday while as two others was eliminated on Wednesday. Police said all the five slain are understood to be foreign terrorists and part of a freshly infiltrated group.

"The encounter is in progress in the dense forested area," said a police spokesman. "Owing to low visibility, security forces are mopping the area with caution."