A Territorial Army soldier was killed and three special commandos of Para unit were injured in a fierce encounter in Tanghdar sector of north Kashmir’s Kupwara district.Official sources told Global News Service (GNS) that army’s 20 RR deployed near the fence at Bateeja and Taya posts intercepted a group of militants believed to be infiltrators. The militants opened fire which was retaliated by troops, ensuing into a fierce gunbattle on Saturday afternoon, they said.“The group of militants believed to be 5 to 7 in number reportedly sneaked in to this part of Kashmir during intervening night of Aug 06/07 via Taya post”, sources said.The group had probably crossed river Kishengang.Following the initial exchange of gunfire, the army immediately cordoned off the whole area to prevent the militants from fleeing, they said.
In the meantime, special commandos from army’s 4 PARA unit along with choppers were pressed into service, they said.A TA soldier identified as Bashir Ahmad War who was handling a sniffer dog during the operation in the area was intercepted by a group of militants, sources said, adding that they (militants) later took soldier along with sniffer dog “hostage” inside the forest area.He was shot dead later.
The militants also killed the sniffer dog, they said.The militants also opened indiscriminate fire with sophisticated weapons upon the forces, resulting in injuries to three commandos who were immediately airlifted to army’s 92 base hospital here in Srinagar for specialized treatment.Condition of two soldiers, Havaldar Rajender Singh (33) and Lias Naik Kowal Ram (30), is said to be critical, they said.Meanwhile, a senior army official told GNS that a tight cordon is still in place in the area.“Either the militants are hiding in dense forest area or managed to escape taking advantage of darkness last night or it will be confirmed after conducting of search operation in the whole area”, he said.Meanwhile, locals said that more than a dozen cattle mainly cows and oxen were killed during the gunfight in the area. The animals belong to local villagers and were in the area for grazing. (GNS)