Army Major, 3 soldiers and 5 militants killed in north KashmirB

Baramulla, Nov 9 (UNI) An Army Major, three soldiers and five militants were killed in the 16-hour-long fierce gun-battle at Pattan in this district, a senior Army officer said today.

Talking to mediapersons at police station, Pattan, after the encounter, he said the encounter ensued after a search party was attacked by the militants, hiding in some houses.

He said reinforcement was rushed and the area was sealed.

The gun-battle continued till this morning in which five militants were killed, he added.

The officer said Major Virender and three other soldiers also laid down their lives in the encounter.

Official sources said more than a dozen houses were damaged in the encounter.

This was the first major encounter in the Kashmir valley after emergency was imposed in Pakistan.

UNI