Kupwara encounter ends with 3 terrorists and one civilian dead, search operation on

Kupwara (Jammu and Kashmir): Three terrorists who were killed in an encounter with the Army at Tangdhar post near LoC in Kupwara were trained to carry out series of subversive activities in India in a 'big way'.

Speaking to the media persons Major General Paramjit Singh said, "It was a very successful operation and all terrorists were gunned down before the perimeters. They were planning something big in the valley."

He said, "The encounter is over but search operation is still going on. It is unfortunate that one civilian has also died in the encounter which began this morning. The Army is conducting search operations in the area to see if there are more terrorists in hiding."

Terrorist group Jaish-e-Muhammad has claimed responsibility for the attack. One soldier has also been injured in the attack. The encounter started when the terrorists were challenged by an Army unit after they tried to infiltrate into the Tangdhar sector along the Line of Control with Pakistan. Several barracks in the army camp have been gutted after an oil dump caught fire during the encounter.

Kupwara senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Ajaz Ahmad claimed it was a fidayeen (suicide) attack. "First there was an explosion inside the camp, followed by heavy firing at the camp. After the explosion fire broke out in one portion of the camp. Two to three fidayeen have entered into the camp," he said.

Three blasts reportedly took place in dump of 3/1 Gorkha Rifles (104 Infantry Brigade in Karnah sector, Tangdhar). Initially at about 7 am, some rifle firing was heard followed by the sound of three consecutive blasts.

Huge smoke was seen around the area. The location is about 350 metres away from location of 38 Battalion of Border Security Force towards the Tangdhar town. "There was a stand off fire from Kalsuri Ridge (in Tangdhar sector) towards an army camp this morning," an army official said.

The official said the terrorists seem to be heavily armed as they used small fire arms and Under-Barrel Grenade Launchers (UBGLs) to carry out the attack.

Tangdhar sector is close to the LoC in Kupwara district and has been used as an infiltration route in the past.