Seven militants killed in gunbattle with army in Kashmir

Seven militants were killed today in a gunbattle between security forces and infiltrators near the Line of Control (LOC) in Gurez Sector of Bandipora district in north Kashmir, defence officials said in Srinagar.

"Seven militants have been killed in a fresh exchange of firing during an ongoing operation in Baktoor area of Gurez Sector, Srinagar-based defence spokesman Lieutenant Colonel JS Brar said.

The spokesman said more details of the encounter will be available when the operation concludes as the gunbattle is still on.

With today’s killings, the death toll in the four-day operation has gone up to 12.

Four militants and an army jawan were killed on September 6.

Army had launched an operation Sunday in Baktoor area, around 140kms from Srinagar,  following information about a group of militants trying to infiltrate from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.

The soldiers had asked the militants to surrender but the latter opened firing, resulting in injuries to two jawans one of whom Havaldar Jung Bahadur Thapa, later succumbed.

The troops had returned the fire, triggering the gunbattle in which four unidentified militants were killed.