US EDITION
COLUMNISTS
DIARY
SPECIALS
INTERVIEWS
CAPITAL BUZZ
REDIFF POLL
DEAR REDIFF
THE STATES
YEH HAI INDIA!
ELECTIONS
ARCHIVES

Search Rediff

14 soldiers, 12 intruders killed in Batalik gun battle

Mukhtar Ahmad in Srinagar

At least 14 soldiers, including one officer, and 12 intruders were killed in a fierce gun battle at Batalik late last night.

Highly placed sources in Srinagar said the intruders ambushed troops trying to capture a strategic position on a ridge.

The intruders opened fire with automatic weapons, killing at least 14 soldiers on the spot.

The Indian Army has intensified operations in Batalik in recent days to evict the intruders who have taken up positions on ridges overlooking Kargil and the Srinagar-Leh highway.

Reinforcements have been rushed to the area.

The sources said the army is planning a major operation in the area to evict the intruders. Artillery is being used to 'soften' their positions.

Meanwhile, heavy shelling by Pakistan continues in the Gurez and Uri sectors.

Police sources in Srinagar said Pakistani troops attacked a barracks of the Border Security Force with heavy machine-guns late yesterday. The barracks caught fire and was gutted.

The Kargil Crisis

Tell us what you think of this report