Shopian attack: Militants open fire at Army, killing 3 jawans, one civilian in South Kashmir district

Three army soldiers were killed and four were injured early Thursday morning, as militants opened fire in Shopian district of Jammu and Kashmir. According to CNN News18, it was an ambush on the party patrol in which a civilian also lost a life.Times Now reports that combing operations are currently underway and search operations have been launched. The area has been cordoned off by the army.The forcers were returning from a search operation in Kungnoo village when they were attacked."The victims included a lieutenant colonel and the civilian, a woman, was inside her house when a bullet hit her during the firing," the police said.Seven soldiers were also injured in the attack."Reinforcements were immediately rushed to surround the area and track the militants," the police added.Inspector-General Syed Javaid Mujtaba Gillani said the militants tossed grenades and sprayed bullets at soldiers after they were returning from a search operation in the southern Shopian area early Thursday.Gillani said the attack triggered a brief exchange of gunfire and a stray bullet hit the 60-year-old woman while she was sleeping in her home.There was no independent confirmation of the incident.Locals said that shortly after the firing stopped, soldiers ransacked homes and smashed dozens of cars in the area.Rashid Ahmed, a villager, said the soldiers "barged into homes" and even fired inside rooms.Video on social media showed windows of parked cars had been smashed as well as windows of homes.Indian army and police did not immediately respond to the allegations.Meanwhile, thousands of people chanting slogans against Indian rule and in support of the rebel cause took part in the woman's funeral.India and Pakistan both claim the Himalayan territory in its entirety.Rebels have been fighting against Indian rule since 1989. Since then, more than 68,000 people have been killed in the armed uprising and ensuing Indian military crackdown.Last year in October, 14 civilians were killed including two minors in a grenade attack by militants.This is a developing story, follow this space for updatesWith inputs from agencies