Gunfight in Handwara continues for second day

A gunfight raging since Friday between security forces and militants that has claimed the lives of a civilian and four security personnel in Jammu and Kashmir continued for a second day on Saturday, the police said.

The fighting had erupted at Handwara in Kupwara district. "The operation against the militants in Babagund village is still going on," a police officer said.

Two CRPF troopers and two policemen were killed in the gunfight on Friday when a militant who was presumed to be dead suddenly rose from the debris of a house and fired indiscriminately at the security forces.

A civilian was killed in subsequent clashes between the militants and security forces.

According to some reports, two houses and two cowsheds were destroyed by the security forces as the hiding militants kept on changing positions at the site of the gunfight.

--IANS

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