Srinagar, July 15
At least four militants and an Army jawan were killed in a fierce encounter between armed militants and the security forces this morning after a night-long siege in the Lolab area of Kupwara district.

Two other security personnel were injured and two houses were damaged in the gunfight.

The deceased jawan was identified as Nayak Sumer Singh of the 18 Rashtriya Rifles, hailing from Nagaur district of Rajasthan, while the killed militants were yet to be identified. The jawan’s body was likely to be flown from Srinagar to his hometown tomorrow, SD Goswami, defence spokesperson, said in Jodhpur.

Acting on specific information about the presence of militants, the police assisted by the 18 RR and the 125 Bn of the CRPF cordoned off Maidanpora village in the Lolab area around 8 pm yesterday, DGP Kuldeep Khoda said. The holed-up militants opened fire at the search party early this morning, resulting in an exchange of fire.

Khoda said no civilian was held hostage by the militants, though the five-member family, in whose house they were holed up, came out safely after the security forces laid the cordon. Three children were the first to come out of the house unharmed.A man came out after some time while a woman was rescued later. Till the family remained in the house, there was no firing between the militants and the security forces, the DGP said.