5 security personnel, 1 civilian killed as 'dead' terrorist opens fire during Handwara encounter

Five security personnel, a CRPF officer, were killed when a terrorist who was hiding in debris of a house damaged in a joint operation in Handwara in north Kashmir's Kupwara district opened fired on them on Friday. The operation is still underway. Earlier, it was reported that two terrorists were killed in an overnight encounter at Babagund village of Langate, Handwara in north Kashmir's Kupwara district. The terrorist was presumed dead, suddenly emerged from debris and started firing which took the security personnel by surprise.

One civilian was also killed during a clash with security forces following a stone-pelting incident at the spot. 

Earlier, on Thursday night at around 9:00 pm, the contingents of Army's 22 RR, 92 battalions, Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and SOG conducted a cordon-and-search operation at Khanu-Babagund hamlet in Langate.

Reports said that the forces had also installed lights to prevent the terrorists from escaping in the darkness of the night. As of now, there is no information on which group the terrorists were affiliated with.

Security forces had launched a cordon and search operation following information about presence of terrorists there, the officials said. During the searches, the terrorists opened fire on the security forces, who retaliated, they said. There was lull in firing several times during the day but the terrorists would resume firing as soon as the security forces advanced towards the house where the ultras were hiding, the officials said. Clashes between a group of youngsters and security personnel took place near the encounter site, leaving four persons injured, the officials.