Jammu gunfight ends, 11 killed

An army jawan during an encounter with militants at Pindi village of Arnia sector about 45km from Jammu. The toll in the gunfight between the security forces and infiltrators that restarted Friday after a lull has risen to 11. Heavy firing is on in Jammu district ahead of the prime minister's election rallies in the state. PTI photo

Eleven people were killed in heavy firing between the security forces and infiltrators in Jammu and Kashmir which restarted Friday.

The gunfight has now ended, ahead of prime minister's visit to the state, officials said.

A group of heavily armed militants sneaked into the Indian side of the border from Pakistan Thursday.

The gun battle started Thursday at Arnia in Jammu district and resumed Friday morning after a lull.

"Searches in the area had to be stopped after heavy firing exchanges started again at the site this (Friday) morning," a senior army officer told IANS here.

A total of 10 people were dead Thursday, but after searches in the area, another body was recovered Friday and the toll mounted to 11.

Officials said 11 people - four civilians, three soldiers and four militants - were killed in the fierce gunfight.

"Another dead body has been recovered during Friday's searches," the officer said.

"The toll has risen to 11... So far, four civilians, three soldiers and four militants have been killed," the officer added.

Sources said the lone surviving militant was presumed to be firing Friday from an abandoned army bunker in Pind Khote village of the R.S. Pura area. Police said they destroyed the abandoned bunker.

The firing has stopped and searches are underway, the officer said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address election rallies for the Bharatiya Janata party in Udhampur and Poonch districts ahead of the second phase of assembly elections Dec 2.

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