Two soldiers were injured in an encounter with militants near the Line of Control (LoC) at the Keran sector of north Kashmir's Kupwara district on Thursday even as Home Minister Rajnath Singh arrived here on a two-day visit.
Sources said that army's 6-Rashtriya Rifles intercepted a group of militants believed to be infiltrators near Kacchal Post adjacent to Chowkibal forests at around 7.15 am. As the soldiers challenged the militants believed to be three to five in number, they opened indiscriminate fire triggering off a gunfight.
An army officer confirmed the gunfight and said that two soldiers suffered injuries in the encounter. A likely infiltration attempt was foiled, the officer added.
The encounter came on a day when Singh arrived in Srinagar for a two-day visit to the state to review the security situation. He is scheduled to visit the border district of Kupwara on Friday.
Singh, who is accompanied by Home Secretary Rajiv Gauba and other senior officers of the Ministry of Home Affairs, is also scheduled to address a Sports Conclave at SK Indoor Stadium in Srinagar. He is expected to announce a financial package of Rs 160 crore for the creation of 20 indoor stadiums in the state.
The home minister will also review overall security scenario of the state and also the progress of Prime Minister’s Development Package at separate meetings in Srinagar later in the afternoon.
The visit comes amid the Centre’s changing strategy in the Valley, which also includes a dialogue with separatist leaders.
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