Jammu and Kashmir: 5 security personnel, 1 civilian killed in Handwara encounter; gunbattle enters third day

Mar 3 (AZINS) The death toll in Handwara encounter, which entered its third day on Sunday, has surged to 6 including 3 CRPF personnel, 2 policemen and 1 civilian, who died in the gunbattle with terrorists. Security forces have spotted two dead bodies of militants near the debris of a house at the encounter site in Handwara.  

The gunbattle between security personnel and terrorists has stopped since Saturday evening after forces blasted the second house where militants were believed to be hiding. Para Commandoes were rushed to the spot after several attempts were made by the forces to neutralise hiding militants failed.

The encounter between security forces and terrorists had begun in wee hours of Friday in Babagund village in Handwara, is still on, official sources said. A CRPF personnel who got injured on Friday, succumbed to injuries today, taking the death toll to 6.

The two police personnel who lost their lives were identified as SgCt Naseer Ahmad Kholi and SgCt Ghulam Mustafa Barah, while the two CRPF personnel were identified as Inspector Pintu and Ct Vinod. The wreath-laying ceremony of the two CRPF jawans  - Inspector Pintu and Vinod of 92 Battalion of Central Reserve Security Force (CRPF) in Srinagar- was held on Saturday.

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

On Friday, firing had stopped after security forces blasted the house in which terrorists were hiding and presumed that they were dead. However, a terrorist suddenly emerged from the debris and opened fire killing four security men and injuring 9 others. The militants shifted to another house in the densely packed residential area.

A police spokesman on Friday said four security force personnel two cops and two CRPF personnel including an inspector later succumbed to injuries. However, defence officials Friday said two army jawans were also killed in the operation.