J&K: Army jawan killed in gunbattle with militants on LoC

JAMMU: An Army jawan was killed in a fierce gunbattle on the LoC between Indian troops and militants, who entered the country under the cover of firing from Pakistani side, in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir.

"A group of armed militants entered the Indian territory from Kabaristan post of Pakistan and were trapped by troops close to Kalash Indian Post between Zeroline and border fencing along Line of Control in Poonch district today," defence officials said.

A jawan, Sepoy Chiba of One Assam Regiment died in the gunbattle which is still on, they said, adding that infiltration by militants followed the heavy cross-border firing on Indian positions along LoC since Saturday.

The encounter is taking place in a dense forest and "as it is a heavily mined area, we cannot cross to that side, thereby making the operation very difficult," they said.

Unconfirmed reports said that one militant has also been killed and his body is lying in the mined area.