March 01: Based on a credible input about the presence of terrorists in Baba Gund area of Kralgund in Handwara, a cordon and search operation was launched today jointly by Police and security forces in the area.

As the searches were going on, the hiding terrorists fired indiscriminately on the search party.

In the process, two police personnel, two CRPF personnel and one individual sustained critical injuries and succumbed. The two police personnel who attained martyrdom have been identified as SgCt Naseer Ahmad Kholi and SgCt Ghulam Mustafa Barah and two CRPF personnel have been identified as Inspector Pintu and Ct Vinod . In the nearby area one individual identified as Waseem Ahmad Mir also sustained bullet injury consequently succumbed at the hospital .

The operation at Handwara is in progress and further details shall follow.

Citizens are requested not to venture inside encounter zone since such an area can prove dangerous due to stray explosive materials. People are requested to cooperate with police till the area is completely sanitized and cleared of all the explosive materials if any.