Kupwara gunfight: Body of fourth militant recovered

The army on Saturday recovered body of one more militant killed in a gunfight in forests of Vilgam, Handwara in north Kashmir's Kupwara district, taking the death toll of militants to four.

An army official confirmed the development. “The operation in the dense woods is still on. It appears, at least two more militants are hiding in the forest area. They fired intermittently at the forces today (Saturday) morning, which was retaliated,” he said.

The official said the slain militants apparently are foreigners and their identity would be established by police. “From the material carried by them, it seems the group belonged to the Jaish-e-Mohammad outfit," the officer said.

Three militants were killed in the same area on Friday. The encounter broke out after the soldiers of 15-Rashtriya Rifles intercepted a group of militants believed to be infiltrating from Brinjal forest adjacent to Shahnagar Jat Gali, Vilgam.

In a separate incident, militants on Saturday lobbed a grenade on joint party of CRPF and police at Muran Chowk in south Kashmir's Pulwama district. However, it did not explode and was later defused by a bomb disposal squad, reports said.

The killings and attacks come close on the heels of unilateral ceasefire announced by the Ministry of Home Affairs during Ramazan which entered its third day. The Ministry said the security forces, however, reserve the right to retaliate if attacked or 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.