Srinagar: Four militants were killed in an encounter with security forces in Shopian district of south Kashmir on Thursday, while three army personnel were killed and five others injured when their vehicle met with an accident on way to the site of the gunfight, officials said.
On receiving information about the presence of terrorists at Badigam in the Zainapora area of Shopian, security forces launched a cordon and search operation, a police official said.
“During the search operation, the terrorists fired upon the forces which led to an encounter,” he said.
In the exchange of fire, four terrorists were killed, the official said, adding their identity and group affiliation were being ascertained.
Inspector General of Police, Kashmir, Vijay Kumar said the slain militants were members of proscribed outfit LeT.
“LeT #terrorists neutralised in today’s #encounter were active in Shopian & adjacent areas of Pulwama. They were involved in 6 #terror crimes including attacks on outside labourers. Hunt for their associates like Aijaz of Pulwama is on & they will be neutralised soon,” Kumar wrote on Twitter.
Also, three army personnel were killed and five others injured when their vehicle met with an accident while on way to the encounter site, the official said.
“An army party of 44 Rashtriya Rifles was in a Sumo going towards the encounter site at Badigam Zainapora, when the vehicle turned turtle near Chowgam Shopian due to which three army personnel died and five got injured,” he said.
Meanwhile, police in a tweet said that four army men were injured in the accident and termed the reports about the stone pelting as baseless.
“Actually a Tata Sumo carrying soldiers from 44 RR Chowgam Camp was on its way to encounter site at Badigam. The driver lost control over the vehicle due to some technical fault and it skidded off the road. 04 soldiers were injured & 02 among them succumbed,” police tweeted.
“It has been reported that some unconfirmed information has been circulated on social media, relating to stone pelting/injuries to some army jawans at Kanipora Spn. It is clarified that info shared in social media is not based on facts,” police tweeted.
Moreover, Army in a statement said that three Army personnel lost their lives and five soldiers were injured after the vehicle they were traveling in overturned near Kanipora village of Shopian district, enroute to an encounter site at Badigam, Shopian.
“Owing to the wet road conditions, the driver seemingly lost control over the vehicle and it skidded off the road. The eight injured soldiers were shifted to District Hospital Shopian, where two among them were declared dead. One soldier had received minor injuries and was discharged from District Hospital. The five other injured soldiers were evacuated to 92 Base Hospital, Srinagar, where the third soldier also succumbed to his injuries. Four soldiers are presently at the 92 Base Hospital and are being treated,” the statement said.
