Army nabs one militant alive in Jammu and Kashmir

SRINAGAR: Army said on Tuesday that it killed four infiltrating militants and captured their fifth accomplice alive during a firefight along the Line of Control (LoC) in Nowgam sector of Jammu and Kashmir’s Kupwara sector.

It, however, did not disclose the names of the slain militants or that of the one captured alive by it saying that revealing their names and other details at this stage could hamper and weigh down the investigations it has taken up into the incident.

“We have got one of them alive and expect some vital information from him. But it won’t be proper or any helping to disclose his name at this stage,” said an Army officer here.

Giving the details of the encounter, the defence source here said that the Army troops launched an operation against the militants’ group which had reportedly sneaked into Nowgam sector earlier and in the ensuing encounter four in the group were killed and one was arrested. The sources said that the slain men also appear to be foreign nationals, most probably Pakistanis as is the militant captured alive.

In the national capital, Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju said, “Consider it a big achievement that a terrorist was apprehended alive in Kupwara district”. He added, “Catching a terrorist alive is a big success as it brings in open the game plan of Pakistan”. The sources said that the moping operation in the area was still underway when reports last came in.