Anantnag, Jun 17 (UNI) An Army officer and a militant were killed while three soldiers were injured in an encounter which ensued during a Cordon and Search Operation (CASO) in this south Kashmir district on Monday.
The martyred Army officer was identified as Major Ketan Sharma.
Official sources said that following specific information about presence of militants at Bidroo Akingam in Anantnag, troops of Rashtriya Rifles (RR), Special Operation Group (SOG) of Jammu and Kashmir police launched a joint search operation early this morning.
“All the exit points were sealed,” they said, adding when the security forces were moving towards a particular area in the village, militants hiding there, opened indiscriminate firing with automatic weapons. “The fire was returned ensuing in an encounter,” they said.
The sources said a militant was killed and his body was recovered, adding arms and ammunition were recovered from the encounter site.
However, when security forces were searching the area there was fresh firing from militants still hiding there. Four soldiers, including two officers, were injured in the exchange of fire, who were later shifted to Army hospital.
They said the officer succumbed to his injured at the hospital.
“The operation was still going on when the reports last came in,” they added.
Earlier it was reported that two militants were killed. Meanwhile, internet mobile service has been suspended as a precautionary measure to prevent spread of rumours.
Additional security forces and state police personnel have been deployed outside the cordoned off areas to prevent demonstration, official sources said.
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