Militant killed in Kupwara encounter, operation on

An unidentified militant was killed by security forces in an encounter which ensued on Wednesday night during a Cordon and Search Operation (CASO) in Handwra in frontier district of Kupwara in north Kashmir, official sources said here on Thursday morning.

Meanwhile, the mobile internet service in Handwara has been suspended as a precautionary measure to prevent spread of rumours.

They said a security force party was attacked by militants at Kralgund, Handwara, in Kupwara last night. The security forces also retaliated, they said. The area was immediately cordoned off after additional troops of Rashitriya Rifles (RR), Special Operation Group (SOG) of Jammu and Kashmir police and CRPF rushed to the area from nearby camps.

Later during the searches a body of a militant and one pistol was recovered from the encounter site, they said adding security forces resumed search operation with the first light this morning.

The operation was going on when the reports last came in, sources added. Meanwhile, a police spokesman said details about the encounter were awaited.