5 terrorists, 4 armymen including a CO killed in J-K

Srinagar, August 22 : Commanding Officer of 45 Rashtriya Rifles battalion, three other armymen and five terrorists were killed on Friday in a gun battle in Macchal sector of Jammu and Kashmir.

Colonel J. J. Joseph, CO of the 45 Rastriya Rifles was killed in an operation against a group of foreign militants in the forests of Macchal sector in Kupwara district.

Joseph was taken to Base Hospital in Srinagar where he succumbed to his injuries.

The Army sources said, "The encounter is still going on and the pattern of fire indicates that these could be foreign militants."

There are reports of another encounter just three to four kilometer away.

Meanwhile, another injured officer has been admitted to Base Hospital in Srinagar.

ANI