11 Militants, Soldier Killed in Kashmir Gunfight

By Fayaz Wani

Srinagar, July 2: Indian army claimed to have foiled the major infiltration bid of militants by killing 11 heavily armed militants on the frontier with Pakistan. A soldier was also killed in the gunfight, which has been going since yesterday.

An Indian army spokesman in Srinagar said that army personnel guarding the frontiers with Pakistan noticed a group of militants trying to sneak into Kashmir from the Pakistani side of Kashmir near Roshni Post.

He said that the militants were signaled to stop and lay down arms. "They, however, turned down the offer and fired from automatic weapons towards the soldiers. The fire was returned by the troops, triggering an encounter," he said.

The Indian army spokesman said that the fierce gunfight has been going on from past two days in the area. "So far 11 heavily armed militants have been killed," he said, adding, "the operation to flush out the militants is going on".

"We fear that more militants are trapped in the area", he said, adding, "Additional soldiers have been rushed to the spot to tighten the siege to prevent escape of militants".

He said that an army officer was also killed in the gunfight.

The identity of the slain militant and the outfit to which they owe allegiance could not be known.

He claimed that a large cache of arms and ammunition including 11 AK rifles and some ammunition were recovered from the encounter site.

This is the major infiltration attempt by militants this year.

It is pertinent to mention here that Indian army has been on high alert to prevent infiltration of militants from Pakistani territory.

Fayaz Wani reports on life in Srinagar, Kashmir.

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