A soldier was killed after militants attacked army’s patrolling party at Rajwar forest area of Handwara in north Kashmir’s Kupwara district on Monday morning.Official sources told GNS that army’s 21 RR and 30 RR jointly launched the search operation at Waderballa forest area following the specific information about the hiding of four Lashkar-e-Toiba militants in the area early today morning.“As such the joint team of forces intensified the combing operation, the militants hiding in the area opened heavy fire upon them”, they said.In the firing incident, a soldier of 30 RR identified as Gursahib Singh sustained critical injuries and was immediately shifted to army’s 92 base hospital here in Srinagar where he succumbed to injuries, they said.
The joint team of forces opened fire in retaliation, however, the militants managed to escape in the dense forest area, they said.
Following the incident, an additional reinforcement of army’s 32 RR, 6 RR, 9 PARA, CRPF and SOG were rushed to the area and they launched the massive searches against the LeT militants hiding inside the forest area, they said.A senior army official while confirming the death of a soldier told GNS that the whole area has been cordoned off to track down the militant group.Meanwhile, some unknown gunmen opened few fire shots on a police party at Yaripora area of Karpora Nowpora in south Kashmir’s Kulgam district.In the incident, no one was injured, however, soon after the firing incident, SOG and army has cordoned off the whole area and launched hunt to nab the attackers. (GNS)