5 security men, one civilian killed in Kupwara operation against militants

Five security men were killed and four others injured in an ongoing gunfight on Friday in Jammu and Kashmir's Kupwara border district, defence sources said. One civilian also died during the operation.

The sources earlier said that two militants had been killed in the encounter after which searches were launched in Kralgund village.

"During the search operation after the firing exchanges stopped, one of the two militants, presumed dead, stood up and started indiscriminate firing at security forces in which two CRPF troopers, two Army soldiers and one local policemen were killed. The operation is still on," police said.

"Four Army soldiers have been injured in the encounter and they have been shifted to a hospital," a police source said.

During clashes between security forces and civilian protesters near the gunfight site, four protesters were injured, out of which one succumbed later.

Police said bodies of the militants are yet to be recovered.

The gunfight occurred in Kralgund village of Langate area in Handwara tehsil of Kupwara district.

Information about the militants' presence was received late on Thursday, following which the area was raided earlier in the day.

--IANS

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