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SRINAGAR: A commanding officer was killed and four soldiers injured in a fierce gun-battle, which broke out in Behrampura village, north Kashmir on early Saturday and continued till late evening. Militants and security forces were also involved in another encounter near Sopore.

Combing operation

Sources said that Colonel G.S. Sarna, Commanding Officer of the 29 Rashtriya Rifles was killed after the troops on information launched a combing operation in Behrampura village under the Kreeri Police Station in Baramulla district on Saturday. According to reports Col. Sarna led the group and the militants who were in a house opened fire.

He was seriously wounded along with four of his guards. "He was evacuated to the military hospital immediately but succumbed to his injuries," the Army's spokesman Col. Hemant Juneja told The Hindu .

He said that the injured were out of danger. Col. Juneja added that nothing was known about the number of militants hiding in the house but "the operation is on and they will be eliminated".

The house owner Mohammad Maqbool was also injured in the gun-battle . Reinforcement was called and a wider area was cordoned off.

Surrender offer

The militants were asked to surrender but they rejected the offer. The police said the militants were believed to be associated with the Lashkar-e-Taiba outfit.

In another operation, the Army cordoned off Dangerpora village near Sopore after receiving information that some militants were hiding there.

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