Army officer killed in gunfight with militants

SRINAGAR: An army officer was killed in a gunfight with militants at a village in Baramulla district, about 60 km from Srinagar on Tuesday.

The gunbattle broke out when troops of Rashtriya Rifles laid a cordon on specific information around Sumbler village to flush out hiding militants, official sources said.

The militants opened heavy fire on the search column led by Captain Vishal and in the ensuing gunfight, the army officer was killed, the sources said.

They said the casualties suffered by militants could not be known immediately as intense firing was going on when last reports were received.

Reinforcements have been rushed to the village to plug escape routes and neutralise the militants, the sources said.