Four Indian soldiers killed in Kashmir
Soldiers discovered their colleagues’ bodies Monday morning during a search for militants in Hafruda forest
PHOTO: AFP
SRINAGAR:
Suspected separatists killed four soldiers during firing overnight near the Line of Control (LoC) that divides Kashmir between India and Pakistan, police said on Monday.
Soldiers discovered their colleagues’ bodies Monday morning during a search for militants in Hafruda forest, around 140km northwest of the main city of Srinagar.
“We lost four soldiers in the operation. No militants were killed or captured during the search,” inspector general of police Javaid Gillani said. “The soldiers came under fire during the night,” army spokesman colonel NN Joshi said earlier confirming killing of three soldiers. The fourth soldier’s body was found later in the same forested area.
Joshi said an armed militant was also killed in a separate encounter in the nearby valley of Lolab overnight.
On Sunday, two suspected rebels, whom the army said belonged to Jaish-e-Mohammad group, were killed during a gun battle in Tral area south of Srinagar. A soldier was injured in the encounter.
Last week, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif proposed a new peace initiative with India over Kashmir, suggesting demilitarisation of the disputed territory, after a surge in cross-LoC shelling. The firing has killed dozens of civilians since last year.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 6th, 2015.
Suspected separatists killed four soldiers during firing overnight near the Line of Control (LoC) that divides Kashmir between India and Pakistan, police said on Monday.
Soldiers discovered their colleagues’ bodies Monday morning during a search for militants in Hafruda forest, around 140km northwest of the main city of Srinagar.
“We lost four soldiers in the operation. No militants were killed or captured during the search,” inspector general of police Javaid Gillani said. “The soldiers came under fire during the night,” army spokesman colonel NN Joshi said earlier confirming killing of three soldiers. The fourth soldier’s body was found later in the same forested area.
Joshi said an armed militant was also killed in a separate encounter in the nearby valley of Lolab overnight.
On Sunday, two suspected rebels, whom the army said belonged to Jaish-e-Mohammad group, were killed during a gun battle in Tral area south of Srinagar. A soldier was injured in the encounter.
Last week, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif proposed a new peace initiative with India over Kashmir, suggesting demilitarisation of the disputed territory, after a surge in cross-LoC shelling. The firing has killed dozens of civilians since last year.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 6th, 2015.