First Gunbattle of Year: Mlitant Killed in Sopore

SRINAGAR: In the first gunfight of year 2015, a foreign militant was killed by government forces in Sopore town sparking off protests in the area.

Defence officials said that after receiving intelligence input about the presence of a Lashkar-e-Taiba militant in Sofi Hamam locality of Chankhan in the town, polices Special Operation Group (SOG), armys 52 Rashtriya Rifles and 177 battalion of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) laid cordon of the area and launched search operation last night.

They said as the noose was tightened in the morning hours, the militant, who was hiding in the area, opened heavy volume of fire on the forces triggering the gunfight.

Sources said the militant was present in the house of Riyaz Ahmad Kalla. The firing between two sides started at around 8:45 in the morning and continued till around 2:00 pm in the afternoon. In the exchange of fire, the troops killed the militant. There was no damage on the side of government forces.

The slain militant was identified as Abu Sufiyan by an army spokesman. An AK 47 rifle, three magazines, 89 rounds of ammunition, one UBGL, three UBGL rounds and other war like stores were recovered from the slain militant, the spokesman said.

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The GoC 15 Chinar Corps, Lt Gen Subrata Saha, has commended the Rashtriya Rifles and SOG personnel from Sopore who were part of the operation.

Meanwhile, soon after the gunfight concluded, the youth took to streets in Chankhan and held pro-freedom protests. The protesters also pelted stones on government forces, witnesses said.

The slain militant was buried in Panzala in Rafiabad area of the district.

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