Militants open fire, slip away in Palhallan

Srinagar, Feb 16:Militants managed to slip away during a gunfight on Friday in North Kashmir’s Baramulla district taking advantage of darkness.
According to official reports, forces launched a CASO at Palhallan village after a tip-off about militants hiding in a house.
Officials added that while the cordon was being established and civilians being evacuated from the area, militants fired indiscriminately and managed to escape taking advantage of darkness.
Scores of youth took to streets and clashed with forces soon after the news about the gunfight spread in the area. The police and para-military CRPF used teargas shells to disperse the protesters.
The clashes continued for several hours, in which few youth were injured, while additional deployed forces sealed all exit points, in the area.
All shops and other business establishments as well as Public transport remained closed across Palhallan on Friday while heavy security was deployed whole day in all exit and entry points as a precautionary measures.
Internet services across Baramulla district were snapped also during the operation. While train connectivity in northern region also remained suspended on Friday, however vehicular movement was plying smoothly on Srinagar Baramulla national highway.