Keran Encounter: Two more soldiers succumb, toll 8 including 5 militants

Keran: Two more soldiers have succumbed to their injuries raising the toll to 3. Earlier
Army said that it killed 5 militants in Keran Secttor of North Kashmir’s Kupwara district along Line of Control. It said one of the soldiers was also killed while two other soldiers were critically wounded and shifted to Srinagar base 92 Base Army Hospital.

Defense Spokesperson, Rajesh Kalia told KNT that earlier due to inclement weather they were unable to evacuate the bodies of slain soldiers, but now those bodies have been evacuated. He said two more soldiers who were injured succumbed to their injuries and the total number of slain soldiers stand now at 3. Five militants and 3 soldiers were killed in the operation which is still under progress.

When asked about the number of injured soldiers, Defense Spokesperson said that he will shortly reveal the total number of injured soldiers.
Army said these infiltrators had sneaked from Keran Sector a couple of days against whom an operation was underway in Zurhama forest of Kupwara. After exchanging fire with the Army, these militants had fled away from the spot taking advantage of dense forest cover.
From past couple of days, Army was after them and on Sunday morning, 8 Jat regiment established a contact with them and during the encounter 5 militants were killed.
An official told KNT that choppers were pressed into service to track these militants at Rangdori Behak Kupwara. He said the operation is still in progress.
Meanwhile Army said that 9 militants were killed by Indian Army in last 24 hours in Kashmir Valley. While 4 militants were killed yesterday in Batpura in South Kashmir, 5 other militants were eliminated along LoC in Keran sector. Militants killed in Keran sector were trying to infiltrate from across Line of Control. (KNT)