Major among four killed by militants

2 INFILTRATORS WERE ALSO KILLED IN THE OPERATION IN NORTH KASHMIR’S GUREZ

SRINAGAR: An army major and three soldiers were killed in a shoot-out on Tuesday near the Line of Control (LOC) in the Gurez sector after an army unit intercepted a group of infiltrators in north Kashmir's Bandipore district. Two militants were also killed in the operation.

It is the first serious infiltration attempt made by militants from Gurez that has been averted. Intelligence inputs suggest that militants have been using the Gurez route for infiltration to strengthen their presence in Kupwara and Hajin areas of north Kashmir. A few groups have successfully infiltrated into the region via Gurez this year.

Defence spokesman Colonel Rajesh Kalia said a search operation was still underway in the area. “It was an infiltration attempt that was foiled in which two infiltrators were killed. We lost four soldiers including an officer.” Given the dense forests and tough terrain in the area, para commandos have been pressed into service by the army.

A group of seven to eight infiltrators, after crossing the LOC, were trying to move towards the dense Baktoor forests early on Tuesday when they were intercepted by the army unit, officials said. Infiltrators opened fire on the unit, triggering a gunbattle in which three soldiers and a major were killed.

The slain soldiers were identified as Major KP Rane from Mumbai, Havaldar Jamie Singh, Havaldar Vikramjeet and Rifleman Mandeep, all from the 36 Rashtriya Rifles unit.