Machil: Three militants, four soldiers killed in gunfight

KUPWARA — Three militants and four soldiers were killed in a fierce gunfight near Line of Control (LoC) in Machil area of north Kashmir’s Kupwara district on Sunday, taking the death toll to seven.

Among those killed include an Army officer, two Army soldiers and a BSF trooper besides three militants, two of whom were killed in earlier phase of the gunfight. Also, two soldiers were injured in the gunfight, the officials added.

“At about 0100h, BSF patrol noticed suspicious movement near the Anti-Infiltration Obstacle System (AIOS) (LoC Fence), about 3.5 km from the LoC. Firefight ensued in which one (militant) was killed. A BSF soldier was killed in action (KIA). Firefight stopped at 0400h,” Defence Ministry spokesman based in Srinagar, Colonel Rajesh Kalia said.

“More troops were rushed to the area. (Militant) movement was tracked by surveillance devices. Contact was re-established at 1020h when heavy fire was drawn by own search parties approximately 1.5 km from the LoC,” he said, adding, “In the ensuing firefight, two more (militants) were killed. Own troops suffered three KIA and two injured. The injured soldiers have been evacuated.”

Earlier, Army officer Lt. Aujla and two soldiers were killed and two other soldiers got seriously injured around noon in the gunfight that ensued early Sunday morning when Border Security Forces intercepted a group of infiltrators in Machil area.

A militant and a BSF soldier from 169 battalion, Constable Sarkar, were killed in the initial phase and later Army joined the operation.