Policeman injured as fresh contact established with militants in Kupwara forests
Srinagar, Mar 21: A policeman was injured on Wednesday after fresh contact was established with militants in the forest area of frontier Kashmir district at Kupwara, where four ultras were reportedly killed on Tuesday.
However, no body has been recovered so far from the forest area.
'The search operation by security forces was suspended last night due to darkness, only to be resumed with the first light this morning in the woods at Halmatpora in Kupwara,' Defence Ministry Spokesperson Colonel Rajesh Kalia told UNI.
A police official said fresh contact was established with militants this morning, adding that one policeman, identified as Javid Ahmad, was injured in the exchange of fire.
'Ahmad, who received bullet wound in his leg, was evacuated from the area and rushed to a hospital, where his health condition was stated to be stable,' he added.
Col Kalia said security forces have sealed the entire forest area to foil any attempt by the militants to escape.
He said following specific information about the presence of militants in Halmatpora check forests, a joint search operation was launched by the Special Operations Group (SOG) of Jammu and Kashmir Police, Army and CRPF in the area on Tuesday.
However, when security forces were moving towards a particular area in the forest, militants hiding there fired at them with automatic weapons. 'Security forces also retaliated, ensuing in an encounter,' he added.
Four militants were killed on Tuesday in the exchange of fire, he said.
However, a police official of Kupwara, when contacted, said that he can't confirm the killings as no body has been recovered so far from the forest area.
Sources said security forces have also launched a search operation in the adjacent forest areas, including at Gulgam and Awoora, which is connected to Halmathpora forests.