Bandipora, Sept 4: A militant and a trooper were killed in an ongoing encounter in Lashkoot forests near Malangam Bandipora, police said on Saturday.
It said the encounter broke out Saturday when troopers spotted a group of militants near the forests. “The militants were challenged but they opened fire which was retaliated, triggering a gunfight. So far a trooper of 3-Bihar has been killed. The gun-battle is on,” a police officer told Greater Kashmir.
Meanwhile the Athwatoo forest encounter entered fifth day after it broke out on August 31. One JCO has been killed and two soldiers injured during the encounter. An eyewitness told Greater Kashmir that helicopter gun-ships were used during the encounter to flush out the hidden militants.
 Locals said that due to the ongoing encounter in the forests, injured wild animals are moving towards populated areas which has created panic in various villages including Vewan, Athwatoo, Tanghat and Panar.
 Locals said they noticed injured bears and leopards wandering in the villages.
 Villagers killed an injured bear after it entered a house near the encounter site in Tanghat village.

Lastupdate on : Sat, 4 Sep 2010 21:30:00 Mecca time
Lastupdate on : Sat, 4 Sep 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Sun, 5 Sep 2010 00:00:00 IST