Srinagar – A trooper of 179th battalion Central Reserve Police Force was injured in an encounter at the sensitive North Kashmir town of Sopore Saturday. He has been shifted to a city hospital in a critical condition, reports said.
Police had specific information regarding the presence of militants in Shallapora, Sopore. The area was cordoned off in a joint operation by Police, 22 Rashtriya Rifles and CRPF personnel. The militants fired upon the party. The area has been cordoned and search is going on, a police spokesperson said.
Police said one CRPF trooper identified as Sumith Kumar was injured in the exchange of fire. Soon after senior police and CRPF officials reached the spot while the locality and its adjoining areas were cordoned off for searches to nab the militants. However, reports said, the militants had managed their escape from the area.
Pertinently, militants had on Friday fired upon an army convoy near hotel Silver Star at Athwajan on the city outskirts killing a hotel staffer and injuring three others. Militant outfit, Lashkar-e-Taiba, has owned the attack.
Reports said the militant attack in the city suburb and the encounter at Sopore in quick succession had belied the government claim of peace having returned to the valley. (KNS)
