The J&K anti-terror operation took place in Machil sector, officials said. (Representational)
An officer of the Indian Army and three security personnel, including a constable of the Border Security Force or BSF, were killed in the line of duty during a major anti-terror operation along the Line of Control or LoC in Jammu and Kashmir's Kupwara district, officials said.
Three terrorists were also gunned down in the anti-terror operation, which took place in north Kashmir's Machil sector, they said. This is one of the biggest encounters in the Union Territory since April.
Around 1 am, a patrol party of the Border Security Force noticed suspicious movements near the Line of Control and challenged the intruders, leading to a three-hour gun-battle in which a terrorist was eliminated.
One BSF constable was killed in action.
"Constable Sudip Sarkar lost his life during the operation in Machil Sector. Reinforcements received from Indian Army, the Joint operation still underway," said the Border Security Force.
The gun-battle ended around 4 am, as the army moved in reinforcements.
Around 10.20 am, more intruders were detected approximately 1.5 km from the Line of Control, leading to a fresh gunfight in which an army officer and two jawans died.
"Contact was re-established at 1020 hours when heavy fire was drawn by own search parties approximately 1.5 km from the LoC. In the ensuing firefight, two more terrorists were killed. Own troops suffered three KIA (killed in action) and two injured," defence spokesperson Col Rajesh Kalia said.
He added that the injured soldiers have been evacuated.
The operation is still underway, the official said.
Pakistan, officials say, is making desperate attempts to push in terrorists before the winter sets in and mountain passes are closed due to snowfall.
Army has said that a large number of terrorists are waiting on launching pads across the LoC.