E-Paper
J-K: Army jawan killed in ongoing encounter with militants
An army jawan was killed on Wednesday evening in an ongoing operation in the Bandipora forest.
An army jawan was killed on Wednesday evening during an ongoing armed forces operation in the Bandipora forest of Jammu and Kashmir.
According to an army official, contact with militants was established at 5 pm in the evening. “The operation has been on in the Bandipora forest for three-four days, many militants are believed to be trapped. Contact with militants was established again on Wednesday evening in which an army jawan lost his life,’’ said a Srinagar-based army official.
The jawan was killed in Butan forests in Bandipora.
Police and army have undertaken a massive search operation in the Sathri forest in North Kashmir’s Bandipora area after reports emerged that some top Lashkar-e-Taiba commanders are holed-up in the area.
According to a Srinagar police spokesperson, militants were traced early on Tuesday morning but no reports of the encounter came in after that.
The operation started as five to eight militants were believed to be trapped in the Sathri forest. Sources said militants could also include LeT commander Abu Qasim.
Qasim is believed to be involved in the killing of subinspector Altaf Dar in Bandipora recently. He is also on the National Investigation Agency (NIA) radar and carries a bounty of Rs 20 lakh on his head.
The operation was on since the reports last came in.
