Three militants, minor killed in encounter in Kupwara district of J&K

Srinagar, March 15

Three militants and a minor girl were killed on Wednesday in an encounter between the ultras and security forces in north Kashmir's Kupwara district, police said.

The girl's brother and a policeman were also injured in the encounter that started this morning.

Security forces launched a cordon and search operation (CASO) in Kalaroos village of the district on Wednesday afternoon following specific intelligence inputs about the presence of militants in the area, a policeman said.

He said as the forces were conducting the operation, the hiding militants fired upon them, triggering an encounter.

“Three militants have been killed in the encounter,” the officer said, adding the three bodies and three weapons have also been recovered from the encounter site.

The slain militants have yet to be identified.

During the gunfight, the official said, a minor girl Kaniza (12) was hit by a “stray bullet” and died on the spot, while her brother Faisal was injured and has been rushed to a hospital for treatment.

He said a policeman was also injured in the initial gunfight.

Meanwhile, a police spokesman said the three militants killed in the encounter belonged to the Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) and their identity is being ascertained.

He said police constable Danish Ahmad was injured in the encounter.

The spokesman said stray bullets hit the minors more than 100 meters away from the encounter site.

The boy has been referred to a hospital here and his condition has been stated as stable, the spokesman said.