Srinagar, Aug 10 (UNI) Two soldiers were killed and two civilians injured in an ongoing encounter in a forest area in Jammu and Kashmir's Anantnag district, officials said.

The gun battle erupted on Saturday when joint teams of forces were carrying out a cordon and a search operation (CASO) in Ahlan Gagarmandu following a specific input about militant presence.

Officials said during the initial exchange of fire three soldiers were injured who were evacuated from the area.“Two of the injured soldiers succumbed to their injuries,” they said.

Srinagar based Defence spokesman, Lt Col M K Sahu said the terrorists involved in the encounter had sneaked into the area from Doda Jammu.
He said on August 5, through human and electronic means it was confirmed that terrorists responsible for atrocities and incidents in the Doda region in July, had sneaked across the Kishtwar range into the Kapran Garol area in South Kashmir.
“Rashtriya Rifles and J&K Police have ever since relentlessly tracked these terrorists and precise operations were launched on the night of August 9 & 10 in the area East of Kapran, in the mountains, where these terrorists were reportedly holed up. The suspicious movement was observed at approximately 1400 hours on 10 August, on challenging, was immediately responded to by indiscriminate, desperate and reckless firing from terrorists in which two Army personnel and two civilians, in the vicinity were injured,” the spokesman said.
He said the terror antecedents of the injured civilians are being ascertained.
Lt Col Sahu said the operation is taking place in a challenging area.
“The area is above 10000 feet in high altitude, has thick undergrowth, large boulders, Nallahs, and re-entrants that pose a serious challenge to operations.
Security forces are moving deliberately and are in the process of hunting down the terrorists. Operations will progress through the night,” he said.

UNI MJR BD