3 soldiers, militant killed in gunfight in Kashmir’s Bandipora

Three Armymen and a militant were killed, and at least eight securitymen, including two officers, were injured in an anti-militancy operation in north Kashmir’s Bandipora district on Tuesday.
The fierce gunfight erupted when joint teams of police, Army and CRPF laid a cordon around Parrey Mohalla, Hajin, 30 km from here, in the wee hours, after receiving an input about militants’ presence.
The identity of the deceased soldiers could not be established immediately.
The injured CRPF officer was identified as Chetan Cheetah and his condition is said to be critical. The other injured are being treated at Army’s Srinagar-based hospital.
There was a massive law and order situation during the anti-militancy operation as locals tried to march towards the gunfight site. Police had to fire teargas shells to stop this.
There have been at least half a dozen gunfights in Hajin area in the past over two months. On January 19, a top Lashkar commander and the nephew of Mumbai attacks mastermind Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi, was killed in a gunfight in Hajin area.
In Kashmir, the forces have stepped up anti-militancy operations and have so far killed 16 militants, including 10 local ones, this year.