Three lashkar-e-Tayyeba (leT) terrorists were killed and a 6-year-old girl died of a stray bullet that pierced through the wooden wall of her house during a fierce encounter in forested Hyhama area of north Kashmir’s Kupwara district on Wednesday. A boy and a police constable sustained injuries in the gun battle. Terrorists are suspected to be Pakistani nationals.
The operation, launched on specific information, began around 6 am when a joint party of Kupwara police along with Rashtriya Rifles and Central Reserve Police Force jawans launched a search operation in Jugtiyal, Hyhama. “During the search, terrorists opened fire on the search party. The fire was retaliated resulting in an encounter,” a police spokesman said.
The encounter continued till the afternoon.
Police constable Danish Ahmad was hit in his elbow. He was immediately shifted to Army’s base hospital in Srinagar for treatment.
Police said 6-year girl Kaneeza and minor boy Faisal sustained injuries after they were hit by stray bullets at their home more than 100 metres away from the encounter site. “They (Kaneeza and Faisal) were shifted to hospital for treatment where the girl succumbed to her injuries. The boy has been referred to Srinagar and his condition is reported to be stable,” police said.