The Hindu : 7 militants, BSF officer killed in J&K

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Aug 19, 2002

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National

7 militants, BSF officer killed in J&K

By Shujaat Bukhari

Armymen on a patrol in Keran sector on Sunday. The Army killed seven militants near the India-Pakistan border in Kashmir on Saturday. -- Photo: Nissar Ahmad

SRINAGAR AUG 18. At least seven militants of the Lashkar-e-Taiba were killed when security forces foiled a major infiltration bid in Keran sector of Kupwara district on Saturday night. A deputy commandant of the Border Security Force was killed in "mysterious circumstances''.

Police sources said the troops late last night had noticed the movement of a group of 18 militants trying to enter the Indian side. In the ensuing gun battle lasting for several hours, seven militants, reportedly from the LeT, were killed while the rest managed to flee. A massive search has been launched to flush them out. This is the first major bid by militants from across the border in the past two months.

In Handwara, the BSF lost a senior officer under "mysterious" circumstances. Reports said that a BSF party led by the deputy commandant of 113 Battalion, Satish Kumar, was moving in Langate area of Handwara on Saturday evening. When it reached near the Rashtriya Rifles camp, gun shots were heard and the officer was hit, killing him on the spot.

A civilian was also killed in the exchange of fire between the BSF and the Rashtriya Rifles. Unofficial reports said the Rashtriya Rifles fired upon the BSF party mistaking them for "fidayeen''.

However, the BSF maintained that nothing could be said at the moment as an inquiry had been ordered.

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