Kupwara again: 2 para commandos,2 militants killed in forest gunbattle

Two para commandos and two militants were killed in gunbattles in the Maidanpora forests of Lolab in Kupwara as operations.

Two para commandos and two militants were killed in gunbattles in the Maidanpora forests of Lolab in Kupwara as operations spread over six days ended today. While the Army said they were still trying to establish the identity of the militants,police named them as Abu Zarar and Abu Mawiah of the Lashkar-e-Toiba.

Security forces are trying to find out if the militants belonged to a Lashkar team in the area or were from a group that had managed to evade troops after infiltrating in Gurez. A group of infiltrators,numbering between 15 and 25,had been intercepted by the Army near the Hajibal forests close to the Line of Control. While one militant was killed in a firefight,the rest melted into the forests.

Maidanpora is known to be a reception base for infiltrators. Defence spokesman Lt Col J S Brar said the operation in Maidanpora had ended but searches were still on. Two militants and two Army jawans were killed in the operation. Once the jawans come down to the units,we will have more details, he said.

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Last Thursday,men of the 9 Para,18 Rashtriya Rifles and Kupwara police began combing the Maidanpora forests after they were alerted about the presence of militants. The two para commandos died in fighting on Sunday night while the two militants were gunned down this morning.

Meanwhile,police sources said an alleged phone intercept of a conversation between two Lashkar militants suggested the presence of Taliban militants in Kupwara.

On March 26,sources said,a militant was heard saying the new people who have come are all Taliban and they only talk about killing and getting killed… we are really fed up with these people… what do we do? The person at the other end,sources said,replied: Throw them out… I will have to consult Bade Bhai.

Army officials involved in operations since March 20 say the militants they engaged appeared to be highly trained. We have not witnessed such fighting capabilities among militants operating in Kashmir in the past, said an officer who took part in two operations against infiltrators in Kupwara.

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