2 soldiers killed, 4 injured in J&K gunfight with terrorists

Srinagar: Two Army personnel died while four others were injured during a fierce gunfight with terrorists in a forest in Anantnag district of South Kashmir on Saturday, officials said.
The conflict occurred during a cordon and search operation that was initiated by the security forces based on intelligence reports indicating the presence of terrorists in the remote Ahlan Gagarmandu forest.Two civilians were also injured in the crossfire, officials said. According to them, the skirmish began when a group of terrorists opened fire at the joint search parties comprising Army troopers, including para commandos, and local police.
In the ensuing gun battle, six Army personnel and two civilians were injured, officials said, adding the injured soldiers were promptly taken to a nearby hospital where two died shortly after arrival.
The remaining injured personnel and civilians are receiving medical attention, they said.
Reinforcements have been deployed in the area and operations to locate and neutralise the fleeing terrorists are underway, the latest officials said. This encounter is a grim reminder of a similar operation in the general area of Kokernag last September.PTI