Para commandos called in after gun fight rages in Handwara
Hours after government forces suspended the operation in Harkoot forest area of Handwara on Tuesday, the encounter started again in the wee hours of Wednesday after suspected militants opened fire on the forces.
Sources said soon after the firing incident army called in Para commandos to trace the militants who are hiding in the forest areas.
Defense spokesman, Rajesh Kalia told Kashmir Vision that one militant has been killed so far. He said that one weapon has also been recovered while the operation is still going on.
Pertinently, the operation was called off yesterday in the evening.
However, local sources said that they could see helicopters hovering over in the wee hours of Wednesday.
Meanwhile, according to the reports, more contingent of forces has been deployed in the area around the Hinkoot hamlet.
They said that apart from Hinkoot forest area, the army and the police searched two residential houses also in the small hamlet.
Sources said that two or three militants are believed to be trapped in the forest area, who might have crossed the LoC through Nowgam area.
Army yesterday claimed that one militant was killed in the encounter and two to three more militants are suspected to be present in the area.
However, the body of the slain militant is yet to be retrieved.
The gunfight between the forces and militants raged on Tuesday after forces launched searches in the area following a tip off about the presence of militants.
However, there was no official confirmation regarding the encounter.
KV Correspondent
