Captain, two soldiers, 3 militants killed in Kashmir encounter

Srinagar, Sep 4 (UNI) An Army captain, two soldiers and three militants were killed in a more than 20 hour-long fierce gunbattle at Ayatmulla village in Bandipora area of north Kashmir's Baramulla district today, a military spokesman said.

Giving details, Army spokesman Col Hemant Juneja said, troops of 57 Rashtriya Rifles (RR), on a tip off, launched a search operation at Ayatmulla village in Sonarwan area of Bandipora, about 75 km north of the summer capital, at around 1800 last evening.

He said soon after, a contact was established with the militants who had taken a refuge in a house in the village.

As troops were laying artificial blockade on all sides of the house to prevent the escape of the militants, they came under heavy fire by the ultras, the spokesman added.

He said the fire was retaliated, but Captain A J I Anthony and two soldiers suffered wound in the gunfight. They were immediately evacuated to a hospital where they succumbed to wounds, the spokesman added.

He said reinforcements were rushed to the area this morning and the militants were fired upon from all sides.

At 1400 hrs, the house was partially damaged in the gunfight and on an initial search, bodies of three militants were recovered.

The identity of the militants was yet to be established, the spokesman said, adding the search of debris was still going on when reports last came in.

UNI AG SI PC1948