An army soldier who was injured critically in an encounter near Line of Control (LoC) at Keran sector of north Kashmir's Kupwara district on Thursday, succumbed to injuries.
Earlier, army's 6 RR intercepted a group of militants believed to be infiltrators near Kacchal Post in Keran sector adjacent to Chowkibal forests. After being challenged the group of militants believed to be 3 to 5 in number opened indiscriminate fire upon the army's ambush party triggering off a gunfight, they had said. A senior army officer based in Kupwara had confirmed the gunfight and said that two soldiers suffered injuries in the incident. He said that both the injured have been evacuated to military hospital Drugmulla where from they were airlifted to 92 base hospital Badamibagh Srinagar.
"Stand off attack by militants on own link patrol ahead of the LC fence in Keran Sector . Two soldiers suffered non-fatal injuries. Own troops retaliated. Operation in progress," army's Srinagar based defense ministry spokesperson Col Rajesh Kalia had said. Among the injured, sources said that Sepoy Sukhvinder Singh succumbed to injuries this afternoon. A police officer also confirmed the death of the soldier. When reports last came in, the massive search operation was going on in the area.