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3 Militants, Soldier Killed in Kashmir Gunfight

By Fayaz Wani

Srinagar, Feb 4: Three militants owing allegiance to a Pakistan based militant group and an Indian soldier were killed in a fierce gunfight with Indian army soldiers at mountainous Kishtwar area of Indian administered Kashmir on Thursday.

A senior army officer while giving details said that soldiers launched a combing and search operation in Chichi-Nagsaini forest area in Kishtwar district of Kashmir after receiving inputs about the presence of militants in the area.

"While the soldiers were conducting combing operations, the militants fired from automatic weapons towards them. The soldiers returned the fire, triggering an encounter. The fierce exchange of fire between the two sides continued for more than four hours during which three militants and a soldier were killed," he said.

The official said that the slain militants owed allegiance to the Pakistan based militant group HUJI. He identified the slain militants as Feroz Ahmed alias Dawood, Nazir Ahmed alias Furkan and Mohmmad Ishaq.

"Dawood was top commander of the militant outfit and was one of the oldest surviving militant in the region," he said and claimed that three

AK assault rifles and large quantity of arms and ammunition were recovered from the encounter site.

He termed Dawood's killing as a major setback to militant activities in the region. "He was involved in many attacks on police, paramilitary and army soldiers and his killing will have an impact on the militant activities in the region," added the army official.

He said that the combing operations are going on to flush out the militants, who might have escaped during the course of gunfight.

Fayaz Wani reports on life in Srinagar, Kashmir.