Jammu and Kashmir: 11 killed in Arnia gunfight ahead of Modi's visit

Jammu: Eleven people were killed in heavy firing between the security forces and infiltrators in Jammu and Kashmir which restarted on Friday. The gunfight has now ended, ahead of prime minister’s visit to the state, officials said.

A group of heavily armed militants sneaked into the Indian side of the border from Pakistan on Thursday. The gun battle started on Thursday at Arnia in Jammu district and resumed on Friday morning after a lull.

“Searches in the area had to be stopped after heavy firing exchanges started again at the site this (Friday) morning,” a senior army officer told IANS in Jammu.

A total of 10 people were dead on Thursday, but after searches in the area, another body was recovered on Friday and the toll mounted to 11. Officials said 11 people - four civilians, three soldiers and four militants - were killed in the fierce gunfight.

“Another dead body has been recovered during Friday’s searches,” the officer said. “The toll has risen to 11… So far, four civilians, three soldiers and four militants have been killed,” the officer added.

Sources said the lone surviving militant was presumed to be firing Friday from an abandoned army bunker in Pind Khote village of the RS Pura area. Police said they destroyed the abandoned bunker.

The firing has stopped and searches are underway, the officer said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address election rallies for the Bharatiya Janata party in Udhampur and Poonch districts ahead of the second phase of assembly elections on 2 December.

IANS