Kashmir: Militant killed, soldier injured in encounter near LoC

A militant was gunned down while a soldier got injured in fierce gun battles that broke out between militants and security forces in Uri sector near LoC and in Baramulla district of north Kashmir on Wednesday.

The exchange of fire near the Line of Control started at around 7 am after security forces launched a search operation in Qazinag Dhar area of Uri sector of Baramulla following information about presence of militants there, an army official said.

So far, one unidentified militant has been killed in the operation, which was going on till the last reports came in, the official said.

He said one AK-47 rifle has been found from the possession of the slain militant, whose identity and group affiliation was yet to be established.

Meanwhile, a fresh encounter between the militants and security forces started at around 4 pm in which a soldier was injured, the official said.

The encounter took place in Vij village in Rafiabad area of Baramulla district this evening, a police official said.

He said the gunbattle erupted when security forces cordoned-off the village after getting information about some militants hiding there.

Fierce gunfight was going on between the two sides, the official said adding there was no immediate report of any casualty on the either side.

Reinforcements have been rushed to the village to further tighten the security cordon to stop militants from fleeing, the official said.