Srinagar, March 1: A gunfight between militants and government forces broke out after around five hours siege at Babagund village of Langate, Handwara in north Kashmir’s Kupwara district late this night. Official sources told news agency GNS that the contingents of army’s 22 RR, 92 battalion CRPF and SOG launched a cordon-and-search operation at Khanu Babagund hamlet in Langate on Thursday night at around 9 pm.

The forces had installed lights so as to prevent the escape of militant owing to darkness, they said. As the forces intensified the searches, militants hiding in the area opened fire at around 1:00 am, leading to a gunfight which was going on when this report was filed, they said. The army has already rushed more reinforcements in the area, they said. A police officer also confirmed the encounter and said that the cordon was launched following specific inputs in the village.