Kashmir gunfight: Rains hamper army operations

JAMMU - Heavy rains hampered the operations of security forces against armed militants in an ongoing gunfight in Jammu and Kashmir’s Rajouri district Monday, a day after a soldier and two terrorists were killed.

The shootout in Thanna Mandi area, about 180 km north of Jammu, began Saturday when an army team led by Major S.K. Mahapatra traced a group of militants in the forested area. In the ensuing gunfight, Mahapatra was injured and a soldier was killed Sunday.

“Today (Monday) is the third day of the encounter. Rains started in the morning and hampered operations,” a senior army official told IANS.

“But we are trying to keep our cordon intact to keep militants and their movements in check,” the official said.

Police suspect that the militants belong to Lashkar-e-Taeba.

The operations are taking place close to the area where terrorists fired at a convoy of the army and a civilian bus Wednesday. Two passengers were killed and 17 injured in the attack.