A Captain and two soldiers were killed in a pre-dawn attack on an Army camp in Kupwara on Thursday. Two militants were also killed while a third is suspected to have escaped under cover of darkness in the 35-minute gun battle in the Panzgam Army installation, about 10 km from the Line of Control.
A 75-year-old civilian was later killed as civilians clashed with security forces, demanding that the bodies of the militants be handed over for last rites.
Indiscriminate firing
The three militants managed to cross the second security layer of the camp located in a mountainous terrain, and were firing indiscriminately, officials said. “They came from the rear side using the ridges and tried to reach the living area but this attempt was repulsed. They were cornered near the exit point and killed,” said Colonel Saurabh Sharma of the Army.
The three deceased Army personnel were identified as Captain Ayush Yadav (26), Subedar Bhoop Singh Gujjar (46) and Naik Bhoota Venkataramana (38). Five other soldiers were injured and were airlifted to Army’s 92 Base Hospital in Srinagar.
The troops recovered three AK rifles, indicating that there was a third terrorist, Col. Sharma said, adding that a search was on. “We recovered three AK rifles, nine magazines, 156 AK rounds, one Chinese pistol, three UBGL grenades, three hand grenades, two radio sets, two GPS devices and a smartphone,” another official said.
“They seem all foreigners. However, we are trying to establish their identities,” said the Army spokesman.
According to the Army, Gunner Rishi Kumar of Field Artillery Regiment displayed presence of mind and “waited for terrorists to come within range”.
“Mr. Kumar was hit on his head but was saved by a bulletproof patka (headgear). He ran out of ammunition and tried to pick up the weapons of the two slain terrorists. However, the third terrorist managed to escape after injuring Kumar,” said the spokesman.
Even as the encounter was on, local people came onto the streets and started pelting stones at the forces. Students of a local school joined the protesters and blocked the main road leading to the Army camp, officials said.
Deputy Commissioner, Kupwara, G. M. Dar said a civilian, identified as Muhammad Yousuf Bhat, was killed during these protests, apparently hit by bullets. “The matter is being investigated,” said Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Kupwara, Shamsher Hussain.
(With PTI inputs)
