Srinagar : At least five militants of the Lashkar-e-Tayiba terror outfit and three security officials, including an army official and two policemen, were killed in a gun battle in the dense forest in Kralpora area of Jammu and Kashmir’s  Kupwara District.

Brigadier A L Chavan of General Staff 15 Corps on Wednesday said that the battle started on Monday when a group of militants tried to infiltrate into the region. “On the night 26 and 27 September some militants tried to infiltrate into Keran sector in the Kupwara district. Around midnight our troopers positioned at the Shamsabari range got information about this infiltration. At the same time this group of six to seven militants was surrounded by our troopers,” said Chavan.

Chavan said that the militants are in possession of huge cache of arms and ammunitions, as heavy firing began from the side of militants. He further added that soon after the information was arrived; a battalion of the Jammu and Kashmir Police joined the army officials in the operation.
The army’s 18 Grenadiers and police’s Special Operations Group launched an operation in the mountains to nab the militants. He added that during the battle an army officer Lieutenant Sushil Khajuria was killed.

 “In the last 48 hours, this operation has been continuing in the form of a fierce battle in that region in which we have gunned down at least five militants. During this operation, till now, our one young, brave officer Sushil Khajuria laid down his life,” said Chavan. He added that Khajuria succumbed to his injuries while he was being taken to a nearby hospital.

Apart from Khajuria two policemen, Shiraz Ahmad and Gulzar  Ahmad, lost their lives in the operation. He said that due to the rough terrain, the battle has continued for so long.

“According to our information in that area, till now, two more militants are present, who will be nabbed soon. That area is a difficult hilly terrain and that is why this gun battle is taking a long time. According to our information the militants belong to a group of the LeT,” said Chavan.

Chavan added that this has been the 24th infiltration attempt in 2011 from the side of militants and so far the over two dozen militants have been killed in various gun battles.