Author:
Publication: The Times of India
- Internet Edition
Date: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow.asp?art_id=1940359585
URL: November 29, 2001
Srinagar: Eleven Army soldiers and
nine Muslim militants have been killed in a gunbattle in Kashmir which
entered a second day on Wednesday, a defence spokesman said.
The fighting started late Tuesday
when Muslim separatists ambushed an Army convoy which was on its way to
flush out militants at Hill Kakka near Surankote, 540 km south of Srinagar.
Five soldiers, including two officers,
were killed in the initial attack, the defence spokesman said.
Seven other soldiers were injured,
of whom six died later, he said.
Soldiers took up positions behind
rocks and trees and engaged the militants in a fierce gunbattle.
"Eight of the militants, believed
to be foreigners, were killed on Tuesday," the spokesman said. Another
militant was shot dead Wednesday.
The spokesman said intermittent
firing was continuing and there were reports that a large number of militants
were present in the mountainious area.
Army and paramilitary reinforcements
have been rushed to the scene, where security forces have recovered two
AK rifles, eight grenades and 120 rounds of ammunition, the spokesman said.
Another militant was shot dead by
the security forces in the neighbouring village of Mora Bichar overnight,
police said.
Six more militants were shot dead
overnight in three separate encounters in northern district of Kupwara
and southern district of Pulwama, according to police.
(AFP)
