Jammu & Kashmir

Four militants surrender in Kupwara after brief gun battle

Four newly recruited militants turned themselves in when security forces surrounded them when they were trying to cross over to Pakistan-occupied Kashmir in frontier Kupwara district.

While four militants surrendered, three others escaped after a brief gunfight at upper reaches of Kalaroos, about 90 km from Srinagar. The four had gone missing on Thursday.

Srinagar-based defence spokesman Col Rajesh Kalia said an operation was launched after a tip-off that four newly recruited militants were being guided by three Al-Badr men for exfiltration.

“The Army in a joint operation with the police laid an ambush and trapped the militants. After a brief gunfight, extreme restraint was exercised and an opportunity was given to the militants to surrender. While the four newly recruited militants surrendered, the three Al-Badr men deserted the new recruits and fled under cover of fire,” the spokesman said.