SrinagarTwo local militants were killed in an overnight encounter in Apple town of Sopore in North Kashmir.
The encounter broke out at a Pazalpora hamlet where a few days back, suspected militants had targeted the army garrison with a grenade, inviting sharp reactions from Army stationed there who allegedly detained scores of labourers working in a query there at the camp and even some were allegedly tortured, a charge vehemently refuted by Srinagar based Defense Spokesperson Colonel Rajesh Kalia.
After receiving information about the presence of two local militants in a residential house, Government forces led by anti-insurgency army wing Rashtriya Rifles cordoned off the Pazalpora village late on Tuesday. However, an official said that the militants opened fire on the search party. The fire was retaliated, triggering an encounter.
After the initial exchange of fire between militants and the government forces, the firing had stopped while forces blocked all the escape routes and used flood lights for clear visibility.
A local from the village said that firing resumed at around 3 in the morning. The gun shots reverberating in the atmosphere created panic in the adjacent villages.
A government official said that operation was called off after the bodies of two militants were recovered from the spot of the encounter. The official while identifying the duo as Gulzar Ahmad of Brath Kalan Sopore and Basit Ahmad from Andergam Pattan said they belonged to militant organization Hizb-ul-Mujahideen.
Reports said that braving torrential rains, thousands of mourners participated in the last rites of the slain miltants.
A police handout said that two HM militants including a district commander were killed in an encounter with police and security forces in Pazalpora area of Sopore.
Acting on a specific information about the presence of militants in Pazalpora area of Sopore, Sopore police along with 22 RR, 179, 177, 92 Bn. CRPF & North Range QRT of CRPF launched a cordon and search operation in the area. During cordon and search operation militants present in the area fired upon the joint search party.
Although the holed up militants were asked to surrender through loud speakers and other possible means, but they denied to surrender. The militants continuously fired upon the joint search party, which was retaliated. During the retaliation, two HM militants were killed.
The slain militants were identified as Gulzar Ahmad Lone alias Ibrahim, district commander of HM son of Ghulam Mohammad Lone resident of Gund Brath, Sopore and Basit Ahmad Mir alias Tahir son of Mohammad Ahsan Mir resident of Andergam Pattan.
02 AK 47 Rifles, 05 AK Magazines, 124 AK rounds, 02 Pouches and a Grenade were recovered from the encounter site.
Both the slain militants were involved in a number of militancy related cases in the jurisdiction of Sopore. They were involved in murder case of one Aijaz Ahmad Reshi of Mundji Sopore. They were also involved in murder case of Nazir Ahmad @Edu-l-Amin of Behrampora Sopore.
Gulzar Ahmad Lone was involved in Mobile Tower attacks and killing cases in the year 2015. His role was instrumental in instigating and luring the youth to join the HM outfit in Sopore, police claimed.
MILITANTS ESCAPE
Meanwhile, clashes erupted in Hajin area of north Kashmir’s Bandipora district after forces cordoned off the Hajam mohalla.
Army’s 13 RR, CRPF and SOG of Jammu and Kashmir police cordoned off the Hajam mohalla after inputs about presence of three militants in the area.
Witnesses said that in a bid to disrupt the operation against the militants youth took to streets and hurled stones at the forces as the cordon was being laid.
“They (forces) responded by firing tear smoke shells, triggering clashes,” said a witness.
Reports said that militants took advantage of intense clashes and fled from the spot.
GUNBATTLE IN PULWAMA
Meanwhile at around 6 pm, a gunbattle broke out between government forces and militants in an area of Pulwama district of south Kashmir, police said.
Security forces launched a cordon-and-search operation in Kakapora area of Pulwama following information about presence of militants there, the police said.
As the forces were conducting the searches, they were fired upon by some hiding militants, he said.
The forces retaliated, triggering a gunbattle which was going on till last reports came in, the official said.
The exact number of militants holed up was not immediately clear but there were reports of two militants being there.
An Army officer suffered minor injuries in the encounter, according to the latest information.
Meanwhile people took to streets in support of trapped militants and clashes between protesters and forces erupted at the encounter site, the police official said.
Further details were awaited.
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