Infiltration bid foiled, 4 killed

SSP Kupwara Vijay Kumar said police received a tip-off that some fidayeen were planning to attack Kupwara-based 28 Divisional Infantry Headquarters at Shalkote. 8220;We came to know that the fidayeen were travelling in a Maruti Van towards the Divisional headquarters. An operation was launched by the Kupwara Police and the van was intercepted at Shalkote,8221; the SSP said. 8220;The militants travelling inside the van opened fire on the police and three militants were killed in the retaliatory firing.8221;

The identity of the three slain militants could not be established immediately. Three Kalashnikovs rifles, nine grenades, one radio set and 287 rounds were recovered from the slain militants.

Police said a woman also died in the encounter. They said she was in her house when a bullet hit her. Local residents later staged a protest demonstration against the killing of the woman.

An hour later, militants ambushed an Army convoy in the same district in which two soldiers were killed and two were injured. A boy was also injured in the gun battle.