Jammu and Kashmir: Encounter in Handwara continues for the third day

The operation to flush out militants from the Babagund area of Jammu and Kashmir's Kupwara district continued on the third day on Sunday. 

An exchange of fire between security forces and terrorists, which began in wee hours of Friday in Babagund village in Handwara, is still on, official sources said.

According to official sources, two or three terrorists are believed to be trapped in the area.

One civilian was killed in the protests at the encounter site on Saturday. 

The encounter began on Friday morning when security forces launched a search operation in the area in north Kashmir, following information about presence of militants there. 

There was lull in firing several times during the day on Friday. Following the exchange of fire, security forces blasted the house in which militants were hiding, and presumed them dead. 

But, when the debris was being checked, militants rose from the blasted house and fired indiscriminately killing four security men and injuring 9 others. The militants shifted to another house in the densely packed residential area. 

A police spokesman on Friday said four security force personnel two cops and two CRPF personnel including an inspector later succumbed to injuries. 

However, defence officials Friday said two army jawans were also killed in the operation.

Clashes between a group of youngsters and law enforcing agencies took place near the encounter site on Friday in which several protestors were injured in the security forces' action.

A youth, identified as Waseem Ahmad Mir, who had severe injuries, was rushed to a hospital where the doctors declared him 'brought dead'.