Inspector General (IG) of Kashmir VK Birdi said on Sunday it is being suspected that 3-4 terrorists are hiding in the Kokernag forest area and presence of two civilians near the encounter site is being probed.
“Security forces had information regarding the movement of terrorists in the upper reaches. A search operation was being conducted in the Gagar-Mandu area. Security forces spotted the movement of terrorists and there was an exchange of fire between the security forces and terrorists. The operation is underway,” IGP Birdi told reporters.
He said during the encounter, two soldiers were killed and another soldier injured, who has been hospitalized.
IGP said two civilians also sustained injuries in the gunfight. The injured civilians were evacuated to nearby hospital, where one of them succumbed to injuries today.
“It is under investigation how some civilians came to be near the group of terrorists, leading to their being caught in the crossfire,” he said.
On the number of terrorists present in the forest area, he said, “It is being speculated that it was a group of 3-4 terrorists”.