Cop, militant killed in Sopore, Civilian shot dead in Shopian

Srinagar: A cop and a militant were killed and an armyman injured in a fierce encounter in Sopore town of north Kashmir’s Baramulla while a civilian was shot dead by unidentified gunmen in Shopian district in south Kashmir.

Press Bureau of India correspondent from North Kashmir said that a joint team of Army’s 52 Rashtriya Rifles, Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) 176 Battalion and Special Operations Group (SOG) of police in the wee hours today cordoned off Chankan locality of Apple town following inputs about the presence of militants in the area.

As the joint team started search operation, the militants hiding in the area opened heavy gunfire on the forces. The forces returned the fire. In the initial exchange of fire, one policeman was killed while trooper—Rinku Kumar (15211952) of 52 RR— was injured. The slain cop has been identified as Constable, Mohammad Rafiq (Belt No 363 AP) of 7th battalion Jammu and Kashmir Armed Police. Rafiq, a resident of Poonch was associated with SOG.

As the encounter intensified, reinforcements of army were rushed in the area. Militants swiftly changed their location and took shelter in a residential house in the neighboring Kranskshivan colony. In the exchange of fire, one militant was killed. Another militant believed to be a foreigner managed to give slip to the forces, they said.

Three residential houses belonging to Altaf Ahmad Najar, Ghulam Nabi Dar and Ghulam Nabi Kanna were damaged in the encounter.

The slain militant has been identified as Manzoor Ahmad Khan, 20, alias Burhan of Sagrama. He was associated with Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT).

Manzoor had abandoned his higher studies early this year to join militant ranks. He was active in North Kashmir town over last six months.

When his body was brought to Sangrama, thousands of men, women and children came out on roads and staged pro-freedom and anti-India demonstrations. Amidst chanting of “We want freedom,” “Salam-O-Martyrs’,” and pro-militant and anti-India slogans, the slain youth was laid to rest at Martyrs graveyard. Scores of people participated in his Nimaz-e-Jinaza.

Superintendent of police (SP) Sopore, Altaf Khan that a joint team of Army , CRPF and police laid a cordon in Sopore town around 0300 hours on a tip-off. Around 0500 hours, he said militants hiding in a residential house opened fire on the search team.

“In the encounter that ensued, one militant and a policeman were killed,” he added.

Meanwhile, a middle aged man was shot dead by unidentified gunmen in South Kashmir’s Shopian this morning.

Official sources said that Ghulam Mohammad Rather, son of Abdul Samad of Lether was shot dead by unidentified gunmen near Aglar early this morning.