Three Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) jawans along with a teenager were killed in gunfire between militants and the army personnel in North Kashmir’s Kupwara district on Monday afternoon.
The incident took place a day after five security forces personnel died in a counter-terror operation. A Colonel and a Major also lost their lives among the five killed in the encounter.
The area has been sealed and extra forces hastened to the place to hunt down the attackers, stated the officials.
A 14- year old boy, later found to be physically handicapped also died during the firing. He was later recognised as Hazim Shafi Bhat, a 7th standard student, belonging to the Khipora village. As informed by his neighbour Mohammad Rayeez, Hazim had taken the animals for grazing along with other boys. While others escaped from the site, he could not as he was unable to speak properly and would often fall down while walking.
PRO CRPF Kashmir Assistant Commandant Junaid Khan reported that two of their colleagues died on-spot and the other one breathed his last on the way to the hospital.
The three security personnel who got martyred were recognised as Constable Santosh Mishra, Constable Chandra Shekhar and Ashwani Kumar Yadav.
