Army says 3 militants killed amid ceasefire

Just two days after the Centre announced unilateral ceasefire in Kashmir during the holy month of Ramzan, the army on Friday said three militants were killed in an encounter in the forest area of Handwara in north Kashmir's Kupwara district.

An army official said soldiers of 15 Rashtriya Rifles intercepted a group of militants, believed to be fresh infiltrators, at Brinjal forest in Vilgam, Handwara.

"The militants opened fire on the army, the troops retaliated, triggering off a gunfight. In the gunfight, three infiltrators were gunned down," he said.

The identity and the affiliation of the slain militants weren't known immediately. Earlier in the day, militants attacked a patrolling party of the army in the Hajin area of northern Bandipora district.

Reports said militants attacked a patrol party of the 13-Rashtriya Rifles in Hajin, 32 km from here, early on Saturday. The army retaliated, resulting in a brief exchange of fire and soon searches were launched in the area.

The killings and attacks come just on the second day of unilateral ceasefire announced by the Ministry of Home Affairs during Ramzan. The ministry said the security forces, however, reserve the right to retaliate if attacked or if essential to protect the lives of innocent people.

On Friday, suspected militants decamped with three service rifles from a police post at Dalgate in heart of the Srinagar city. Earlier on Thursday, militants decamped with service rifle from a policeman near Kashmir University.