Srinagar: The operation in north Kashmir’s Sopore area that claimed the life of an army soldier was called off on day three Tuesday as terrorists fled from the scene, officials said.
Sepoy Pangala Kartheek was injured in the exchange of fire with terrorists in a hideout at Zaloora Gujjarpati in the Sopore police district and died as he was being evacuated from the scene of the gunbattle on Monday.
“The (Sopore) operation, launched on specific intelligence inputs, involved the busting of a militant hideout. During the exchange of fire, an army jawan sustained critical injuries and later got martyred. The operation is over,” Inspector General of Police Kashmir Zone V K Birdi said.
Security forces had resumed searches at Zaloora Gujjarpati on Tuesday morning but called off the operation later in the day.
The operation started on Sunday with security forces laying out a cordon after they noticed fire inside a hideout.
Drone footage of the slain soldier has been doing rounds on social media, prompting an advisory by police urging people not to share such videos which can “compromise the security of the state”.
“It is reported that certain persons are circulating/sharing sensitive details about the Gujjarpati/Zaloora incident without considering the ramifications of such activism. It is enjoined upon all to desist from such irresponsible practices compromising the security of the state,” Sopore police posted on its X handle.
Soldier injured in landmine blast in Poonch
An army soldier was injured in a landmine explosion near the Line of Control (LoC) in Poonch district on Tuesday, officials said.
The 32-year-old soldier was part of a patrolling party when he accidentally stepped over the landmine in Krishna Ghati sector, the officials said.
They said the mine went off, causing critical injuries to the sepoy who was immediately evacuated to hospital.
As part of an anti-infiltration obstacle system, the forward areas are dotted with landmines which sometimes get washed away by rains resulting in such types of accidents, the officials said.
