Militant killed in Chadoora gunfight

Srinagar, Jan 8: A militant was killed in an encounter at Chadoora area of central Kashmir’s Budgam district on Monday.
SSP Tejinder Singh said that a joint team of police, army and CRPF following a specific information launched a cordon-and-search operation in Kaneera Putrigam, Chadoora. As the joint team of forces intensified the searches the hiding militants opened fire triggering off an encounter.
“During the gunfight only one militant has been killed”, SSP said, adding that the body of the slain has been recovered along with a rifle.
SSP said that so far his identity could not be ascertained.
The sources said that police called families of militants—Firdous Ahmad Mir and Musavir Ahmad Wani from Pulwama and asked to see if the slain was one among them. However, they said, the families have not identified either of them. The CASO was launched on information that three militants were hiding and initial militant casualties were based on the information.
Earlier, soon after the news about the encounter spread, the people mostly youth took to streets at Chadoora and its adjoining areas and start pelting stones on forces. The forces resorted to teargas shelling and used some aerial shots to disperse the protesting people. In the meantime, the busy market at Chadoora shuts down spontaneously.
Meanwhile, in wake of the encounter, the authorities blocked internet services in Budgam and Pulwama districts to maintain law and order.