HM militant, army cop killed in Rafiabad encounter

Kashmir, Sep 02 : a Hizbul Mujahideen militant and an army soldier were killed in an encounter in Rafiabad area of Baramulla on Wednesday.
Defence spokesman in a statement said that acting upon specific intelligence of SOG about the presence of some militants in Ladura, Rafiabad in Baramulla district, a joint operation was launched by the Army and JKP in the early hours Wednesday. “The cordon was established by day break and the Security Forces moved close to the suspected house while carefully evacuating people including women and children from their houses to minimize any collateral damage. As the noose was tightened around the suspected house, the militants opened indiscriminate fire. The response by the security forces was restrained to avoid loss of life and damage to civilian property,” he said.
The operations, which were terminated in the evening, resulted in elimination of one militant identified as HM operative Riyaz Ahmed Mir of Brat Kalan, Sopore and recovery of three AK-47 rifles along with other warlike stores. One soldier of the Army was also killed in the encounter, said the spokesman.
As the encounter ended, local took to streets and protests against the highhandedness of the army and police forces during the encounter. Police and army used teargas shells and pellet guns to disperse the protesting mob in which two local youth were injured. One house was completely damaged in the encounter while two houses were partially damaged.