Search Operation Launched After Stand-Off In Kupwara Forests

Kupwara, Jun 21: Government forces launched a search operation in Karhama forest area of north Kashmir’s Kupwara district following a stand-off between militants and army last night.

Official sources told GNS that army and militants exchanged a brief gunfight in Karhama forest area on Wednesday night.

A police officer told GNS that the entire area has been cordoned off soon after the brief gunfight in the forest area. “One militant among the fleeing group is believed to have sustained injuries”.

He said that today morning additional reinforcements of the army also joined the operation and sniffer dogs have also been pressed into service to trace out the militants.

Meanwhile, panic gripped in Teetwal area of Tanghdar sector during the intervening night of June 20/21 after alleged cross-border shelling between Indo-Pak armies.

“At around 2:30 am the forward areas in Tanghdar including  Satpora, Dani, Hajithra, Tad villages rattled with fire till 6:00 am in the morning as the armies from both the sides exchanged intermittent exchange of firing during the time,” the locals alleged.

They said that due to cross-border shelling some residential houses also suffered partial damage at Forward Satpora village.

The residents of these forward areas said that they are in distress and fear due to the shelling. (GNS)