Militant, sniffer dog killed, 3 wounded

Srinagar, July 30: (UNI) Security forces shot dead an unidentified militant in a gun battle in Jammu and Kashmir’s Baramulla district on Saturday in which two soldiers and a policeman were injured. An Army sniffer dog was also killed in the exchange of fire, officials said.
The fighting broke out at Wanigam Bala village when security forces launched an anti-militancy operation.
“During the operation, as the search party proceeded towards the suspected spot, the hiding terrorists fired indiscriminately. In the ensuing encounter, one terrorist was killed,” an officer said. “Two soldiers and a policeman were wounded in the gunfight. A sniffer dog was also killed. ”
The identity of the slain militant could not be established immediately.
July has seen six gun battles in Kashmir which has left four militants dead. Last month, security forces went all out and killed 33 militants in 19 gun battles.