SRINAGAR Five Indian soldiers including a Junior Commission Officer (JCO) were killed during an ongoing military operation in Kupwara district. India’s Defence Ministry Spokesman Colonel Rajesh Kalia in a statement in Srinagar confirmed the killing of the soldiers and injuries to several others. Two among the injured soldiers, including a Junior Commissioned Officer (JCO) succumbed to injuries at Badamibagh army hospital in Srinagar, he said. The operation was launched initially by Indian army’s 8 JAT on Wednesday. Besides, the cordon and search operations continued along Awaoora, Kumkadi, Zurhuma, Safawali, Batpora and Haihama areas of the district by the joint team of Indian Army’s 41 Rashtriya Rifles, 57 Rashtriya Rifles, 160 TA and Special Operation Group Kupwara. Meanwhile two Indian soldiers committed suicide in Bandipore and Samba districts. One Indian soldier named Satendra Kumar Tomar shot himself to death while he was on duty at 14 Rashtriya Rifles camp in Bandipora. The other Indian soldier, Makhan Lal (40), shot himself dead with his service rifle at Border Road camp in Samba district. With these two more suicides, the number of such deaths among Indian troops and police personnel in occupied Kashmir rose to 449 since January 2007.—SABAH
