Security Force patrol party attacked, CASO launched in Jammu and Kashmir's Kupwara

SRINAGAR: Militants on Friday attacked a security force patrol party in the woods in the frontier district of Kupwara, where Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh is scheduled to visit and review the development projects under Prime Minister's Development Programme (PMDP).

Official sources said the militants hiding in the forest attacked a security force patrol party with automatic weapons this morning.

Troops also retaliated but the militants fled from the spot.

Later, security forces launched a massive Cordon and Search Operation (CASO) after the vast area of the forest was sealed.

The operation was going on when the reports last came in, they said.

Yesterday, two Army soldiers were injured when they were attacked by militants near Line of Control (LoC) in Keran sector.

Security forces also retaliated but the militants managed to escape, they said, adding that massive CASO continued in the woods near LoC.

One of the injured soldiers has reportedly succumbed in the hospital.

No contact has been established with the militants since yesterday, they said.

Security forces foiled three infiltration bids from across the LoC and killed nine militants during the past one month in north Kashmir.