Senior army officer killed in north Kashmir encounter

Srinagar, Dec 23 (UNI) A senior Army officer was killed in a fierce encounter at a village in Pattan in north Kashmir district of Baramulla today, a Defence Ministry spokesman said.

He said troops of 29 Rashitriya Rifles (RR) recieved a specific information this morning that a group of militants were hiding in some houses at a village near Pattan, about 27 km from here.

The Troops, led by the Commanding Officer Colonel G S Sarna, immediately rushed to the area and sealed the village sides.

However, when the troops were about to storm a particular house, militants hiding inside opened indiscriminate firing. Troops also retaliated and in the encounter, the Commanding Officer received bullet wounds in the abdomen.

He was immediately admitted to a hospital in a critical condition, where he died, the spokesman added.

Sources said reinforcement was rushed to the area from nearby camps and militants were being asked to surrender.

The operation against the militants was still going on, he said, adding the residents living in the nearby houses were being evacuated to safer places.

UNI BAS FMH KD RK1520