J&K: 2 CRPF jawans, 2 policemen martyred in Kupwara encounter

Mar 1 (AZINS) Four security personnel, including two policemen and two CRPF jawans, succumbed to their injuries during an encounter with terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir's Handwara town of Kupwara district on Friday.A civilian was also killed in the encounter, officials said.

Based on credible input about the presence of terrorists in Baba Gund area of Kralgund in Handwara, a cordon and search operation was launched today jointly by police and security forces in the area, the police said.

The encounter broke out after the terrorists fired indiscriminately on the search party.

The two police personnel who lost their lives have been identified as SgCt Naseer Ahmad Kholi and SgCt Ghulam Mustafa Barah, while the two CRPF personnel have been identified as Inspector Pintu and Ct Vinod. The civilian has been identified as Waseem Ahmad Mir.

The operation at Handwara is in progress and further details are awaited.

"Citizens are requested not to venture inside the encounter zone since such an area can prove dangerous due to stray explosive materials. People are requested to cooperate with police till the area is completely sanitised and cleared of all the explosive materials if any," the police said in a statement.