Exchange of fire in Tral forests, Policeman wounded, Army soldier succumbs; militants escape

A gunfight broke out between militants and government forces at Laam forest area of Tral in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district on Tuesday morning. Official sources said that a joint team of army’s 42 RR, SOG and CRPF have cordoned the forest of Goitango in Laam in Tral.
As such the joint team intensified the combing operation, the militants hiding opened the fire triggering off a gunfight, they said.
Following the brief exchange of gunfight, the militants believed to be three in number reportedly fled from the spot. Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Police south Kashmir Range said that initially the contact was established.
“Yes the contact has been established and the search operation is going on,” DIG said.

A soldier injured in an exchange of fire with militants in Lam forest area of Tral in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district on Tuesday has succumbed, police sources said.
They said that soldier, identified as Ajay Kumar of 42 RR, was shifted to 92 Base hospital in Srinagar where he succumbed.
A police official said the militants opened fire on a forces’ party in the area early morning, resulting in a brief shootout.
He said that the militants are believed to have escaped towards upper forest area after the initial exchange of fire.
A search operation jointly launched by the army, SOG of Jammu and Kashmir Police and the CRPF to nab the militants is going on, he said.
Meanwhile, clashes erupted in main town Tral after youth hurled rocks at a forces’ vehicle. The forces responded by firing tear gas.