Srinagar: A Special Operations Group (SOG) jawan of Jammu and Kashmir police was killed while four security forces personnel and a civilian were injured in a brief encounter with militants in the summer capital, Srinagar on Sunday.
A hideout was busted and two accomplices of militants were also arrested during the operation in the area.
A high alert has been sounded in the city as the incident comes just three days ahead of Independence Day while the mobile internet has been suspended in Srinagar as a precautionary measure.
Director General of Police (DGP) S P Vaid said that following specific information about presence of militants, a joint search operation was launched by SOG, Army and CRPF at Batamallo in Srinagar late last night.
When security forces were cordoning off the target house, the militants hiding there, fired at them with automatic weapons.
“The security forces retaliated ensuing in an encounter,” he said.
He said in the exchange of fire, the SOG jawan was martyred, a policeman and three CRPF jawans were injured.
“One civilian, identified as Niyaz Ahmad, was also injured in the exchange of fire,” official sources said, adding the wounded were immediately taken to a hospital.
They said the SOG jawan has been identified as Selection Grade Constable Pervaiz Ahmad.
They told UNI that the militants managed to give a slip to security forces under the cover of darkness.
“A massive search operation was still going on when the reports last came in,” the sources added.
Deputy Inspector General (DIG) central Kashmir range V K Birdi told reporters that a hideout has been busted and two accomplices of the militants have been arrested during the operation.
“One of the militants was reportedly injured in the exchange of fire, but they (militants) managed to escape,” he said, adding that the entire area has been cordoned off and a massive search operation has been launched to nab the ultras. (UNI)