Kupwara, Apr 14: A 60-year old militant was killed in an encounter with troops in this frontier district on Wednesday. “A joint party of police and troopers of 6-Rashtriya Rifles exchanged fire with militants in Rainawari forest near Pahaldaji village, 100 kms from Srinagar, this morning.
In the encounter a militant was killed,” army’s Srinagar based spokesman Lt Col J S Brar said in a statement.
“An AK rifle, four magazines and 67 rounds were recovered from the slain militant. His identity is yet to be ascertained,” statement added.
 When contacted Lt Col Brar, expressed ignorance about the age of the slain militant. “ I don’t know how old he was,” he said.
 The commanding officer of 6 RR also feigned ignorance about the age of the slain militant. However, Medical Superintendent of the district hospital Handwara, Dr Ghulam Nabi Lone, said the age of the deceased person was around 60.
 Meanwhile, police said that troops handed over the body to the police post Magam this morning. “No one came to claim the body till late in the evening,” a police official said.
 The sources in SOG Handwara disclosed that police refused to entertain army’s request to lodge an FIR claiming that it was a joint operation carried by police and army.
 Residents of Magam refused to bury body till late evening saying that deceased couldn’t be a militant as he was above 60- years.
 The people staged protests till late in the evening demanding identification of the body.

Lastupdate on : Wed, 14 Apr 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Wed, 14 Apr 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Thu, 15 Apr 2010 00:00:00 IST