Army major killed in encounter with militants

An army officer was killed and another wounded in a gun-battle between militants and security forces in Baramulla...

An army officer was killed and another wounded in a gun-battle between militants and security forces in Baramulla district on Tuesday.

Army spokesman Lt Col A K Mathur said Major K P Vinay, from Hyderabad, was killed in the exchange of fire at Rajwali Tangmarg forest. “After a tip-off about the presence of militants in Rajwali forests, an operation was launched by 34 Rashtriya Rifles. The hiding militants opened fire on the troops and three army men, including two officers, were injured. One of them, later succumbed to injuries,” Lt Col Mathur said.

The identity of the injured Army officer and jawan could not be established immediately. Both have been shifted to a hospital for treatment.

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Mathur said when the troops retaliated to the fire, the militants to take refuge in a nearby village. “The area has been cordoned off and the operation is in progress as two to four militants are believed to be in the village,” a source said, adding that a top militant commander is believed to be holed up in the village.

Police sources said one militant is also believed to have died in the encounter. But there has been no official confirmation. “Till now we have no report of any militant causality,” Mathur said.

Sources said the cordon would continue throughout the night and the operation will resume only on Wednesday morning.