Three militants killed in Shopian encounter

Team Udayavani, Aug 13, 2017, 10:53 AM IST

Srinagar: Three militants were today killed in an overnight encounter with security forces in Shopian district of south Kashmir, the police said today.

Two Army men had lost their lives in the gunfight yesterday, while three others were injured.

“Three militants have been killed in the encounter at Zainapora in Shopian,” Director General of Police (DGP), S P Vaid told PTI.

Vaid said the identity and group affiliation of the slain militants is being ascertained.

Security forces launched a cordon and search operation following information about the presence of militants in Avneera village of Zainapora area of the district yesterday.

As the forces were conducting searches, the militants opened fire on them which was retaliated by the law enforcement personnel, triggering a gunfight.

Five soldiers were injured in the gunfight yesterday and were evacuated to 92 Base Hospital of the Army for treatment.

Two soldiers among them succumbed to injuries last night.

The operation was halted for the night but the forces maintained a cordon of the area to stop the militants from fleeing.

The gunfight resumed this morning and the three militants were killed.

A defence spokesman identified the slain Army men as Sepoy Ilayaraja P, a resident of Tamil Nadu, and Sepoy Gawai Sumedh Waman, a resident of Maharashtra.

2 cops injured during search operation

Two cops were injured today when militants fired on a search party of security forces in north Kashmir’s Bandipora district, police said.

A cordon and search operation was launched by the forces at Wahab Parray Mohalla in Hajin area of the district after receiving specific intelligence input about the presence of militants there, a police official said.

He said as the forces were conducting the search operation, the militants fired upon them, resulting in injuries to two police personnel.

The injured cops have been taken to a hospital for treatment, the official said, adding the cordon and search operation is going on in the area.