Army officer killed in gunfight with militants on LoC

A Junior Commissioned Officer (JCO) was killed on Saturday during an infiltration bid by militants in the Macchil sector along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir's Kupwara District.

One other soldier was also injured.

According to media reports, troops of the 56 Rashtriya Rifles noticed some suspicious movement of two to four persons along in the Macchil sector at around 3 a.m. and challenged the intruders. an Army spokesman said.

The militants opened fire on army positions, including on the Dingeri Post, which was retaliated.

In the ensuing gunfight, JCO Arun Kumar was killed, while another soldier Solanki Raju was injured.

The militants fled from the area owing to the stiff challenge posed by the army troops, the spokesman said.

The ultras left behind two assault rifles and some war-like stores before crossing back into PoK territory, he said.