Kupwara, Apr 06 (KNO): The Army on Monday claimed to have killed five militants in a “hand to hand and close quarter battle” in snow bound woods in Keran sector on LoC in north Kashmir's Kupwara district, stating that it also lost “five professional soldiers including a JCO from its Special Forces Squad.”
Officials told wire service—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), that in the encounter along LoC five infiltrating militants and five soldiers including JCO were killed.
Army said it launched a massive and daring anti-infiltration operation along the LoC and engaged the infiltrators in a “close quarter battle” in heavy snow, during which all the five militants were killed.
Defence Spokesman in Srinagar, Colonel Rajesh Kalia said that in the quarter battle with militants, five it lost five professional soldiers including a JCO from its SFS, who were air dropped near the LoC soon after getting specific inputs about the infiltration.
The Army’s SFC was led by Subedar Sanjeev Kumar that included Havildar Davendra Singh, Paratrooper Bal Krishan, Paratrooper Amit Kumar and Paratrooper Chhatrapal Singh.
A top police official in Kupwara told—KNO that the bodies of all the slain militants are lying in the woods. “The terrain is tough and snow covered. The bodies haven’t been handed over to us for identification,” he said, wishing not to be named.
It may be recalled that a fierce encounter broke out between the security forces and militants on the LoC in Teen Bahak, KK Gali area in Keran sector on Saturday late evening. The operation concluded Sunday late evening with the killing of five militants and five soldiers including a JCO—(KNO)