Kashmir encounter: Policeman, militant killed, 5 soldiers injured

Srinagar: A constable of Special Operation Group (SOG) of Jammu and Kashmir police, a militant were killed and five soldiers, including an officer, injured in a fierce encounter underway in Tral in south Kashmir's Pulwama district, official sources said. The operation was going on as there were three to four militants of Hizbul Mujahideen (HM), including a top commander, trapped in the area, they said, adding that details are awaited. On a tip-off, security forces and SOG of J&K police launched a joint search operation at village Hafro Reshipora, Tral in Pulwama district last evening, the sources said.

However, when the security forces were sealing the village, the militants hurled hand grenade and resorted to indiscriminate firing with automatic weapons. Security forces also retaliated, ensuing a fierce encounter. However, due to darkness the operation was stopped late last night, though all exit points had been sealed to foil any militant attempt to escape. With the first light this morning, a major offensive was launched by the security forces against the holed up militants. Constable Manzoor Ahmad was killed while five others, including an officer (Major), who were injured, have been hospitalised.

A militant was also killed, sources said, adding that the body of the militant has not been recovered so far as fierce encounter was going on. Loud explosions were heard from the encounter site this morning, local residents said, adding that security forces deployed in the area were not allowing people to move out of their houses. People, including women, hit the streets and tried to move towards the area last evening when the operation was launched. However, the security forces and state police personnel burst teargas shells resorted to lathicharge to disperse the demonstrators, who were pelting stones.

Additional security forces had been rushed to areas adjacent to encounter site to prevent any fresh demonstrations today. The encounter took place hours after security forces called off search operation in Shopian district after the militants managed to escape under the cover of darkness early this morning. Security forces had launched a search operation late last night at village Chillipora Hef, where security forces had to burst teargas shells to disperse the demonstrators. (UNI)