Infiltration bid foiled at LoC in Handwara, 3 militants killed: Army

Three militants were killed during an infiltration bid that was foiled by security forces near the Line of Control in north Kashmir’s Handwara, some 200 km from capital Srinagar, the army said on Sunday.

The army claimed on Sunday to have foiled an infiltration bid by killing three militants near the Line of Control in north Kashmir’s Handwara, some 200 km from the capital Srinagar.

A police man stands guard in Srinagar during the curfew in July 2016. Militants attacked near the Line of Control in Handwara on Saturday night. (Waseem Andrabi/HT File Photo)

An army official said war-like stores were recovered from the dead men in the Nowgan sector of Handwara in Kupwara district.

Police said gun battle erupted near the Aatma post on the Line of Control during the night. “The exchange of fire continued in the morning as well,” police control room Handwara informed.

Superintendent of police, Handwara, Ghulam Jeelani said that the operation was still in progress. “The militants have been cordoned and we are yet to recover the dead bodies of the militants,” he said.

There were reports of gun shots in Gurez area of Bandipora and Tangdhar in Kupwara as well. However police did not confirm the incidents as yet.

The suspected infiltration attempt comes amid simmering tensions in Kashmir, where a two-month-long spell of violence has killed 62 people and injured thousands. Protests broke out following the July 8 killing of insurgent leader Burhan Wani but India blames Pakistani militants for fanning the unrest.

Read | Two protesters killed in Kashmir clashes, death toll rises to 77

Security forces are also battling militants in Jammu’s Poonch where one policeman was killed and a superintendent and civilian were injured.