Kupwara: An operation in north Kashmir's Kupwara district to flush out militants hiding in the forest area continued for the 16th day on Saturday as the militants eluded the security forces.filePolice sources confirmed that the operation against militants in Manigah forest area of Kupwara district is still on.
They said that they have reports that a group of three to four heavily armed militants is still hiding in the forest.
They said that some houses in this forest area were emptied to ensure the safety of the civilians.
Despite confirming several times during the last 16 days that contact had been established with the hiding militants, the security forces have not been able to successfully end the operation.
Colonel Santosh Mahadik was killed during this operation when he was leading his troops from the front against the militants. Lt. Colonel S.K. Natt, second in command of a Territorial Army battalion, was injured during the same operation. Three other army men — two Territorial Army troopers and one personnel of the Special Operations Group (SOG) of the state police have also been injured so far in this extended operation.
