Two militants and as many soldiers were killed in an overnight gunfight in Rajwar forests of Handwara in north Kashmir’s Kupwara district.Around 2:15 am Friday, army’s 21 RR laid a cordon around Laribal forests of the Rajwar range following specific intelligence input that suggested the presence of heavily armed militants in the jungles, officials told Srinagar based newsgathering agency Global News Service (GNS). The militants hiding in the forests opened heavy fire upon the soldiers when they tried to make advances deep inside the forests.
The army returned the fire triggering off encounter. In the exchange of fire that continued up to 4:30 am, two soldiers and two militants were killed,” an official, who insisted not to be named, told GNS.He said other militants, believed to be four in numbers, managed to escape during the exchange of fire. The officer identified the slain soldiers as Jagdesh Prassad of Rajasthan and Chatin Shaikya of Assam of 21 RR.Officials said that around dawn, Special Operations Group (SOG) personnel and additional reinforcements of army reached the spot to assist 21 RR to carry out the operation further.“Even helicopters were pressed into service to locate the militants, who managed to flee. The coming operation continued till late evening. However, no contact was established with the militants, who are on run,” the official said. (GNS)