3 BSF jawans killed in LoC gunfight

Three BSF jawans and a militant were killed in a fierce fire fight in the Macchil area close to the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kupwara district on Monday. Four other jawans — two each from the BSF and the Army — were injured, officials here said.

They said that among the slain BSF jawans is an officer, but refused to divulge their names till their families were informed officially.

“There’s precedence there that the families of the jawans who lay down their lives in the line of duty should be informed first. They should not come to know about it through media,” a senior security officer said.

However, police sources here said that sub-inspector Mahinder Yadav, head-constable C.P. Singh and Constable Babu Shaan are the BSF troopers killed in the fire fight which was still on as reports last came in.

Confirming the incident, Army’s Northern Command in a tweet said that a terrorist was killed during a gunfight and that three BSF personnel also lost their lives. Hizbul Mujahideen said its cadres were involved in the encounter.