SRINAGAR: Three militants of Lashkar-e-Taiba and a minor girl were killed in an encounter between militants and security forces in border district of Kupwara in Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday.
A police spokesman said acting on specific information about presence of militants, police, Army’s 41 Rashtriya Rifles, and 98 CRPF personnel launched a joint cordon and search operation in Jugtiyal, Hyhama in border district of Kupwara this morning.
He said while the combing operation as going on, militants hiding in the area fired from automatic weapons towards the search party.
The fire was returned by the troops and in the ensuing gunfight, three Lashkar militants were killed, the spokesman said.
He said a police constable identified as Danish Ahmad sustained bullet injuries in the firefight. He has been referred to Srinagar hospital for specialized treatment.
The spokesman said a minor girl Kaneeza and a minor boy Faisal were injured after being hit by stray bullets more than 100 meters from the encounter site.
“The injured duo was shifted to hospital for treatment, where the girl succumbed to injuries,” he said.
The injured boy has been referred to Srinagar hospital for specialized treatment.
An army official said identity of the slain militants was being ascertained.
He said three weapons and some ammunition were recovered from the possession of the slain militants.
The official said locals of the area did not stage any protests and no clashes took place between local population and security personnel during the encounter.
In recent encounters in North and South Kashmir, people had staged protests and engaged security personnel in clashes.
On March 9, a 15-year-old boy was killed in security forces firing on protestors near the encounter site in Padgampore, Awantipora in South Kashmir’s Pulwama district. A 22-year-old youth also died of heart attack during the clashes in the area.