Fresh firing on fifth day of Kupwara gunbattle

SRINAGAR: The fierce gunbattle between militants and security forces in forests of north Kashmir's Kupwara district, which has left five ultras and four security personnel dead, entered into fifth day today.

"There has been fresh exchange of firing between the two sides in the wee hours," army said.

Army said there was a lull in the exchange of hostilities last evening but militants again opened fire on security forces, who were combing Shamsabari forests in Kupwara.

So far, five militants, two army personnel and as many policemen have been killed in the operation that began on Monday.

The encounter broke out at Awathkul in Shamsabari forest area of Kralapora, 130 km from here, on Monday when police assisted by Army launched a search operation following tip-off about presence of heavily-armed militants.

Two to three militants, who were believed to have escaped from the scene of gunbattle, have shifted their positions and engaged the security forces again this morning.

The army said further details of the operation were awaited as the scene of action is a treacherous terrain located deep inside forest area.