Pulwama encounter: 4 soldiers martyred, 2 JeM militants killed

Srinagar: An Army major among four soldiers reportedly was  martyred and a civilian killed in an encounter with militants which ensued during a Cordon and Search Operation (CASO) in south Kashmir district of Pulwama in the wee hours of Monday, official sources said.

Meanwhile, mobile internet service, which was resumed on Sunday night in the valley after remaining suspended during the day, has been blocked again in Pulwama, where additional security forces have been deployed in main and other towns to prevent demonstrations.

A police spokesman said that details are awaited about the encounter, which ensued three days after 44 CRPF personnel were martyred in a fidayeen attack at Awantipora on the Srinagar-Jammu national highway in Pulwama district on Thursday afternoon.

Sources said that on a tip off about the presence of militants in village Pinglan in Pulwama district, troops of 55 Rashitriya Rifles (RR), Special Operation Group (SOG) of Jammu and Kashmir police and CRPF launched a joint search operation in the wee hours of Monday. 

However, when the security forces were sealing the particular area in the village, militants hiding there opened indiscriminate firing, in which four soldiers, including a Major were critically injured. The injured were shifted to 92 Base hospital, where they reportedly succumbed. Official confirmation about their death was awaited.

Meanwhile, a civilian who was also hit by a bullet near the encounter site has also succumbed. The residents in the nearby houses have been shifted to safer places.They said additional security forces were rushed and all exit points were sealed to foil any attempt by militants to escape.Official sources also said that intermittent firing was going on when the reports last came in. There are two to three militants holed up in the area, they added.Meanwhile, additional security forces and state police personnel were deployed in the adjacent villages to prevent any demonstration, they added.(UNI)