Two militants, soldier killed in North Kashmir

Official sources told UNI that troops of 13 Rashtriya Rifles (RR) and Special Operation Group (SOG) of Jammu and Kashmir police launched a joint search operation at village Manzpora Naikkhai in Bandipora following a tip off about the presence of militants on Friday morning.

An encounter ensued after militants hiding in the area opened fire with automatic weapons on security forces, they said, adding that the fire was returned. Source said in the encounter, so far, two militants and a soldier were killed.

The operation was still going on when the reports last came in, they said. They said on a tip-off about the presence of militants, troops of 22 RR and SOG launched a joint operation at Tujjar Sharief, Sopore, in Baramulla district.

However, when the security forces were moving towards particular area, militants opened fire, they said, adding that security forces also retaliated ensuing an encounter. Additional security forces have been rushed and entire area has been sealed to prevent any attempt by militants to escape. Later, a militant surrendered along with arms and ammunition before the security forces. 

Last night, militants attacked a police station at Kralgund in the frontier district of Kupwara. However, there was no report of any loss of life as militants managed to escape under the cover of darkness after security forces also retaliated.

Deeply concerned over the ‘deterioration’ in situation along the Line of Control in Kashmir, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has called for restoration of stability in the region, saying the world body supports ‘all efforts’ to reach ‘durable’ peace and security.

"The secretary-general is deeply concerned about the deterioration of the situation along the Line of Control in Kashmir in recent days," a United Nations statement attributed to his spokesman said.

"He calls on all involved to prioritise the restoration of calm and stability in order to prevent any further escalation and loss of life," the statement said, adding that Ban "trusts India and Pakistan can find common ground and work towards a sustainable peace."

"The UN stands by the people of the region and supports all efforts to reach durable peace and security," said the statement.

Tension between India and Pakistan have increased after the attack on an Indian Army base in Uri on September 18 and the resultant "surgical strike" on terrorist launchpads in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir by the army 10 days later. Since then, cross-border firings have increased killing soldiers and civilians on both sides.

This week, 12 people, including three Pakistani soldiers, were killed in alleged Indian cross-border firings. The Indian response came after the Indian Army warned of "heavy retribution" following the killing of three of its soldiers, with the body of one of them mutilated in a cross-LoC attack.

Pakistan has denied as "false" and "baseless" its troops were responsible for the mutilation and deaths of Indian soldiers.