Handwara, May 11: Three militants and a trooper were killed while another trooper was critically injured in a fierce gun-battle in Handwara area of the frontier Kupwara district Tuesday raising the death toll in separate gunfights this week to 14, police said.
Police sources told Greater Kashmir that this afternoon Special Operation Group Handwara and 30 RR surrounded a house in Sanzipora Mawar on a tip off about the presence of militants there.
“The militants hold up in the house fired upon the troopers triggering a fierce gunfight in which three militants and a trooper were killed while another trooper suffered critical injuries,” they said, adding
that gunfight was going in the house of Territorial Army trooper.
 Deputy Inspector General of police north Kashmir Abdul Qayoom Manhas said the police and Army launched joint operation in Sanzipora after getting information about presence of militants.
 “The gunfight is on and three militants have already been killed while a trooper also lost his life,” he said.
 Sources said this is the extension of the operation launched by police and Army in Rafiabad forests on Wednesday, where militants numbering 25 to 30 were planning to hold meeting.
 “After the operation was launched, one militant and a trooper were killed on last Thursday evening whereas the militants who managed to escape got scattered into groups and one of the groups was intercepted by SOG Sopur, 30 RR and 1-Para next morning in Duggarpora Rafiabad next day and five militants and one trooper was killed in the area on Friday,” they said, adding that next contact was established at Shanagri on May 08 and two militants were killed in third contact.
 “Three militants who managed to escape in Shahnagri are engaged in gunfight this time and two of them have been killed,” they said.
 Sources said that Army is carrying out massive combing operation in the forests of Kupwara for the past five days to trace out militants of this group believed to be hiding in the dense forests.
 Troopers of 21,30,32 and 6 RR assisted by SOG have been carrying out searches in the dense forests as they believe ten to 12 militants are still alive from this group.
 “Some of the militants of this group have retreated back to their hideouts,” they said, adding that helicopters have been deployed to search for militants.

Lastupdate on : Tue, 11 May 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Tue, 11 May 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Wed, 12 May 2010 00:00:00 IST