Shopian, Feb 25, KMW: Two militants were killed in an overnight encounter with security forces at Heft Shirmal in Shopian district of South Kashmir on Wednesday.
“Two militants were killed in an encounter with security forces while the efforts to neutralize the third militant are on,” a police told News agency and identified one of the slain militants as Ashiq Hussain Dar, a resident of Turkawangam Shopian.
Army personnel from 55 RR, SOG Imam Sahab Shopian and CRPF had launched a cordon and search operation in the village last evening following information about presence of militants in the area, he said.
The official said the security forces’ party was fired upon by the militants, which was retaliated, triggering off a fierce gun battle.
“Arms and ammunition have been recovered from the site of the encounter along with the bodies of the two slain militants,” the official said, adding the identity of the two slain ultras is being ascertained.
Local sources informed that several houses were damaged during the encounter while people from adjacent areas including Panjran, Achan, Shirmal and Sogun staged a massive protest against the ongoing encounter. “Government Forces resorted to tear-gas shelling and lathi-charge resulting in the injuries of several persons,†the witnesses said.
Reports said that at least four army personnel have also been injured during the encounter who have been shifted to Awantipora based Army hospital.
