Kupwara encounter enters 15th day as fresh firing breaks out

Officials said exchange of fire has lasted little over 25 minutes but no casualty has been reported so far

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Fresh exchange of fire took place between security forces and militants holed up in a forest in north Kashmir's Kupwara district, as the operation that has left one army officer dead entered its 15th day today.

"Fresh firing has been reported from the Manigah forests of Kupwara this morning between security forces and the militants holed up there," a police official said.

The official said the exchange of fire lasted little over 25 minutes but no casualty has been reported so far.

The operation in Manigah forests was launched on November 13 following information about presence of a group of heavily armed militants there.

Colonel Santosh Mahadik was killed in the operation on November 17 while another officer was among several soldiers during the fortnight long operation. One unidentified militant has also been killed.

The official said search operations were still in progress.