Soldier, four guerrillas killed in Kashmir

An Indian Army soldier and four guerrillas were killed in a night-long gunfight in Jammu and Kashmir's Kupwara district, an official said on Thursday.

"Security forces, including troops of the army's para regiment, Special Operations Group of state police (SOG) and CRPF, surrounded Vilgam (Handwara) village late Wednesday following information about a group of guerrillas hiding in the village," a police officer told IANS here.

"When the guerrillas were challenged they resorted to firing at the security forces triggering the encounter in which four militants and an army soldier were killed," he added.

He said search operations were still on in the area, adding that the identity of the militants was being estsablished.

It must be recalled that an army soldier and a separatist guerrilla were killed on Wednesday in Ladoora village of the same district. - IANS