CASO launched in Kupwara woods, resumed in Bandipora

Srinagar, Jun 19: Troops launched a Cordon and Search Operation (CASO) in the woods on Tuesday in the frontier district of Kupwara where some firing shots were heard last night, official sources said.

With the first light this morning, troops resumed CASO in Bandipora forest where so far four militants have been killed and a soldier was martyred since operation was launched on June 9, when a group of infiltrators sneaked into this side from Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir (PoK).

They said some firing shots were heard when a patrol party of the Army was passing through Dedikote forest in the frontier district of Kupwara last night. Troops also retaliated ensuing in a brief exchange of fire. The militants later fled from the area under the cover of darkness in the dense woods.

Troops deployed in the nearby camps were immediately alerted, they said. A massive CASO was launched against the hiding militants. However, so far, no contact could be established with the ultras.

''Meanwhile, with the first light this morning, troops resumed CASO in the Panar forest in Bandipora, where two militants were killed in an encounter on Monday. The operation is continuing since June 9 when troops noticed a group of militants sneaking into this side from PoK. Two militants were killed in the initial encounter when a soldier was also martyred. We are suspending operation during the night to avoid casualities,'' the source said. More troops are joining every morning from different directions.

Sources said troops guarding the borders are already on high alert to foil any attempt by militants, waiting in launch pads at Line of Control (LoC), to cross over to this side from PoK.