A fierce gunfight started between militants and army at Mendhar area of Poonch district in Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday morning.A senior defence official told that army troopers of 1 Mahar deployed along Line of Control (LoC) at Roshni Post near Balnoi in Mendhar saw a suspicious movement of about 5 militants who tried to sneak into this side at around 1:30 a.m (during intervening night of July 02/03). “The same group earlier on night of July 01 tried to sneak into this side from upper belt of Roshni post; however, the troops foil their attempt”.The army men at Roshni Post followed the movement of the suspected men and finally the forces challenged their move at around 04:15 a.m, the official said, adding that the militants opened heavy fire upon the army guarding the fence.
The fire was retaliated ensuing a fierce encounter which lasted for an hour, the official said.“The army along with extra contingent of forces conducted a day long searches in the whole area but no militant body has been found”, the official said, adding that probably the group of militants returned back.