Colonel, solider lose life, encounter going on ;Foreign militant killed elsewhere
By News Agency of Kashmir
Srinagar : Five persons, including an army colonel and three militants were killed in an ongoing gun battle between the militants and security forces along the Line of Control at Uri sector in North Kashmir.
The gun battle erupted between the two sides when troops challenged a group of armed men, who were trying to sneak to this side of border at Godethal Uri, an official spokesman told News Agency of Kashmir.
He said that the jawans on guard at Gadihal Uri in North Kashmir challenged a group of militants who were trying to sneak to this side of border. Instead of giving up, militants resorted to indiscriminate on the troops in an attempt to escape from the spot.
When the militants were challenged they opened indiscriminate fire on the troops killing two soldiers. Commanding Officer, colonel Vasanth V of 9 Maratha and Lance Naik Bachav Shahkant Ganapat lost their lives in the militants attack, he added.
The troops retaliated leading to a fierce gun battle. Three militants have been gunned down so far, while the encounter was still in progress. The identification of the slain militants could not be ascertained immediately.
Meanwhile, one militant, believed to be a foreigner was killed during a joint operation by police and Army in North Kashmir , while security forces recovered a huge cache of arms and ammunition from Safakadal area of summer capital.
The foreign militant was killed at Monabal falling under police station Kralgund, after police and 30 Rashtriya Rifles, on a specific tip off  launched a joint operation in the area.
Sources quoting Superintendent of Police Handwara said that  on a specific information generated by police sources, a joint operation was launched by Police Handwara in association of 30-RR last night in the Jungles of Monabal, falling under the jurisdiction of Police Station Kralgund.
They said that just after fall of the night the troopers noticed some persons moving in suspicious circumstances.
Troopers challenged the persons who instead of giving up opened indiscriminate firing on the troopers. The search party also took position and returned fire leading to a fierce fire fight which continued for four hours.
One unidentified militant believed to be a foreigner was killed during the exchange of fire.
 One AK-47 Rifle, four Magazines, 18 rounds of ammunition and a pouch were recovered from the site of encounter.
The search of the area was going on till the last reports came in. Â
Meanwhile, Police and personnel of 118 Bn CRPF during a search operation recovered one AK-56 rifle, four AK-Magazines, 145 rounds of AK ammunition, one Anti personal mine and one cleaning rod from general area at Badivoder, falling under the jurisdiction of Police Station Safakadal, Srinagar.
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