Gurdaspur jawan, 3 militants killed in Tangdhar gunfight

Srinagar, September 24

A commando from Kotla Khurd area of Gurdaspur in Punjab and three unidentified militants were killed in an ongoing counter-infiltration operation in the Tangdhar sector of Kupwara district of Jammu and Kashmir on Monday. 

The slain commando has been identified as Lance Naik Sandeep Singh (30) of the 4 Para unit. He had joined the Army in June 2007. The number of militants killed in the operation, which began along the LoC on Saturday afternoon, has gone up to five. Two unidentified militants were killed in the operation on Sunday.

Srinagar-based defence spokesman Colonel Rajesh Kalia said three more militants were killed in the operation on Monday. The operation was launched by the Army after noticing suspected movement near Pathri Behak, Tangdhar, over 190 km from Srinagar. 

Since Saturday, the Army has been able to establish contact with the militants eight times in the dense forest area.  The latest contact with the militants was established on Monday morning, leading to the killing of three more militants and the commando.  Police sources say the bodies of four militants had been retrieved. — TNS