3 unidentified militants killed, army officer injured

Srinagar: Three unidentified militants were killed in a fierce gunbattle at Yadipora , Pattan in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district while an army officer was also injured in the initial exchange of fire.
Officials said an encounter broke out between militants and forces, after joint teams of police, 29 RR and 176 battalion CRPF laid a siege in Yadipora village late last night. “In the morning, contact with the militants was established triggering a fierce gun battle. In the first assault, a militant was killed while an army officer sustained bullet injury in his chin,” they said.
Defence spokesman Colonel Rajesh Kalia said in Srinagar that an army officer was injured in the firing “but he was stable.”
A police spokesman said during the cordon and search operation as the presence of hiding militants got ascertained, they were given the opportunity to surrender. “However, they refused to surrender and instead held two families comprising of 12 members including children hostage. It was therefore after strenuous efforts of joint forces that all the family members were rescued and evacuated,” he said.
The spokesman said in the ensuing encounter, three unidentified militants were killed and their bodies were retrieved from the site encounter. “The identification and affiliation of the killed and retrieved from the site of encounter. The identification and affiliation of the slain militants is being ascertained,” the police statement said.
The police spokesman said that incriminating materials, including arms and ammunition were recovered from the site of encounter. “The last rites of the slain militants will be performed after conducting their medico-legal formalities including collection of DNA. In case any family claims their kith of kin, they can come forward for their identification and participation in the last rites to PCR Baramulla. “People are requested to cooperate with police till the area is completely sanitized and cleared of all the explosive materials if any,” the police spokesman said