SRINAGAR: An Indian Army commando was killed and another was left injured during a counter-insurgency operation in north Kashmir’s Kupwara district on Wednesday.

“Security forces on Tuesday had launched the anti-terror operation in Kupwara’s Sadhu Ganga forest after receiving intelligence inputs about the presence of terrorists in the region. In the ensuing encounter which lasted till Wednesday, Sepoy Mukul Meena was killed and his colleague was injured,” said a defence spokesperson.

Meanwhile in Memendar village of south Kashmir’s Shopian district, a 12-year-old boy — Salik Khursheed — was killed and three minors wounded when a live hand grenade exploded where they were playing. The injured were rushed to the Shopian district hospital where Salik succumbed. The rest have been shifted to Srinagar’s SMHS hospital for treatment, said police.

Hundreds of mourners gathered at the minor’s funeral later in the day, said sources. The grenade blast comes a day after an 18-year-old civilian was killed in the crossfire between terrorists and security forces in Kundalan village in the district.

