J&K Gunfight Over: 4 Civilians, 3 Soldiers Killed in Cross-Firing Between Militants and Armymen

The gunfight between militants and the Jammu & Kashmir, which killed 11, including four militants and three soldiers, has ended and the police has started search for militants suspected to be hiding.

"The firing has stopped and searches are underway," IANS quoted a senior police officer said.

The death toll in Jammu & Kashmir gunfight reached to 11 after the cross firing between the Army and militants resumed Friday morning near the International Border.

On Thursday, seven-eight militants who broke into an Army bunker near the Pindi post in state's Arnia sector. Following which cross firing started between the Army and militants, leading to death of four civilians and two soldiers including one junior officer.

While the Army shot down four militants in the encounter, three civilians were also killed in the cross firing that lasted till 3 pm. "One junior commissioned officer of the Army was also killed and four soldiers were injured," IANS quoted a police officer as saying.

The injured were rushed to hospital for treatment.

"The group of militants comprising seven to eight fired at a civilian vehicle after they infiltrated into the Indian side in Arnia area of Jammu district. The driver and two occupants of the vehicle were killed in this incident after which the militants entered an abandoned Army bunker in Pind Khote village," the officer said.

The cross firing had ended between the two sides at around 3 pm on Thursday but the remaining infiltrators fired back again at the Army after some time. In the exchange, two more were killed including one civilian and another soldier.

Separatist guerrillas infiltrated into the Indian side of the international border and sneaked into an abandoned bunker, police sources told IANS.

"The infiltration attempt was supported by Pakistan Rangers who fired mortar shells at BSF (Border Security Force) positions in Arnia today (Thursday) morning so that the militants could sneak in," a senior police officer said.

The army was informed by the villagers who alerted them about the militants' presence. Soon after, the army reportedly rushed in its Quick Reaction Team to the bunker.

The incident coincides with the current South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) Summit taking place in Kathmandu, Nepal, attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif.

PM Modi is scheduled to visit the Valley on Friday for an election campaign ahead of the second phase of the J&K polls.