Srinagar, Sep 5: An unidentified militant and a soldier were killed in an encounter last night on the Line of Control (LoC) in Tanghdar Sector of Kupwara district of north Kashmir, Army said.
This is the first infiltration bid that was foiled in Tanghdar Sector this year and Army has started combing operation in the area.
Divulging the details, an Army officer of Kupwara-based 28 Infantry Division told Greater Kashmir that soldiers of 16 Punjab Regiment last night witnessed the movement of suspected people in the area of Abdullah Hut near Gonda Post on the LoC.
“The suspected people were two to four in number,” the officer said. “They were asked to stop, but they opened heavy fire,” he said.
In the initial gunfight, the Army officer said, a soldier identified as Nayak Rajeshwar Singh was critically injured. “He was evacuated, but he died on way to hospital,” the officer said adding that the gunfight continued for some time.
The officer said that in the morning searches in the area were carried out and body of an unidentified militant was recovered. “Others managed to flee back or are hiding in dense forests surrounding the area,” he said adding that the area has a difficult terrain.
The Army officer said that a thorough search operation is going on in the area with the help of reinforcement.
Defence sources said that following the infiltration bid the vigil along the LoC has been intensified and combing operations have been started.
“Soldiers have increased vigil along the LoC as intelligence reports suggest that groups of militants are waiting to infiltrate into the Kashmir Valley,” sources in Army said.
They said the soldiers are carrying out combing and search operations through the dense forests in Keran, Macchil, Handwara, Kupwara and Gurez sectors of the Valley which have emerged as favored infiltration routes for militants over the past couple of years.
“The vast swathes of forests are being scanned by soldiers to flush out the militants, if any. However, no fresh contact was established with them since last night,” sources said.

14 KASHMIRI BOYS JOINED MILITANCY IN 2012: CENTRE
PTI Adds from New Delhi: Fourteen youths from Kashmir valley have reportedly joined militant groups this year, government told Parliament on Wednesday.
“Reports received from central agencies indicate that some Kashmiri youth have joined militancy. During the year 2012, 14 youths of the Valley have reportedly joined militant groups,” Minister of State for Home Jitendra Singh told Rajya Sabha in a written reply.
The government, he said, had adopted various counter terrorism methods to neutralize the efforts and capabilities of militants and to watch the activities of those supporting such groups.
“The government has also encouraged policies to mainstream the youth and discourage them from joining militancy,” he said.
The minister said a total of 67 “successful” infiltration attempts, out of the total 139, have taken place till July this year across the border in Jammu and Kashmir.
Similar “successful” attempts, during the same period last year, stood at 26.

Lastupdate on : Wed, 5 Sep 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Wed, 5 Sep 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Thu, 6 Sep 2012 00:00:00 IST