Seven infiltrators have been gunned down in three ongoing encounters near the LoC in north Kashmir’s Kupwara district. The Army has launched a massive search operation in the forest areas of the district to flush out militants who have engaged troops in the fierce encounters.

The first encounter began on Tuesday evening in Keran sector when a group of infiltrators was spotted by the troops. The Army said two infiltrators were killed when they were challenged by the troops near the LoC. Soon, the Army launched a massive search to flush out other infiltrators.

On Wednesday morning, another encounter began in the jungles of Shundigalli area K-Top near Bariya. Following a tip-off, troops and personnel of the J-K Police Special Operations Group cordoned off the forests to nab the militants. “A contact was developed with militants around 9 am and in the initial gunfight two militants were killed. The encounter is still on as a large number of infiltrators have been trapped in the cordon,” said police sources.

The third encounter is raging in Karnah sector of Tangdhar. Sources said a large group of militants was spotted by the troops near Rawan and Lower Sultan Post near the LoC. When they were asked to surrender, the militants opened fire and the troops retaliated killing three of them. Sources said the infiltrators had split into small groups and engaged troops in various pockets.

An Army spokesman said the identity of militants was being ascertained. “So far we have seized three AK-47 rifles, one UBGL, six UBGL grenades, six hand grenades, five magazines, one radio set, one wire cutter and Rs 3,000 in Indian currency,” he said.

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