Monitor News Bureau
Srinagar, Mar 21: North Kashmir Thursday witnessed three major encounters, first at Kalantra, Kreeri area of Baramulla, second in Sopore and the third one in Hajin area of Bandipora district.
While the gunfight in Baramulla ended Thursday evening, the other two were still going on at the time of filing this report.
Quoting official sources, news agency GNS said that two militants were killed and three para commandos wounded in the gunfight that started on Wednesday late evening between government forces and militants in Baramulla.
They said the gunfight began after army’s 52 RR, 29 RR, Special Operation Group of Police (SOG) and CRPF on Wednesday evening launched a search operation in Kandi area of Kalantra belt based on inputs about the presence of militants.
Additional reinforcements of 3 Para commandos were rushed to the area Thursday morning. During the course of the gunfight, two para commandos including an officer of Major rank and a soldier of 29 RR were injured. The injured were evacuated to army’s 92 base hospital Badamibagh Srinagar for treatment, where two are said to be critical.
The forces had also busted a militant hideout in the area Wednesday evening.
A senior police officer said that two militants were killed in the gunfight which ended late Thursday. “The bodies of both the militants were retrieved along with as many weapons”.
DSP Headquarter along with three policemen and an ambulance driver was among two civilians injured in day-long clashes that erupted in the area soon after the forces resumed search operation. All the injured were taken to nearby hospital for treatment.
Meanwhile, in wake of the gunfight, authorities had suspended internet service in the northern district.
Sopore encounter: A police officer was among two cops injured on Thursday in an ongoing gunfight between government forces and militants in north Kashmir’s Sopore village.
Reports said a joint team of Army’s 22 RR, special operation group of police and CRPF launched a cordon and search operation in Mir Mohalla Warpora village of Sopore on Thursday morning.
A police official said that militants fired upon outer cordon party in which a Station House Officer (SHO) and his two security guards were injured. All the injured policemen have been shifted to Srinagar for specialized treatment.
The officer further said that earlier they had brought the family of a trapped militant to the encounter site to persuade him to surrender, however it proved futile.
As per the sources one or two militants are believed to be trapped including a top commander.
Meanwhile, SSP Sopore Javid Iqbal, as per GNS, said that searches for the hiding militants are on and no contact with militants has been established as of now.
Earlier, in the day suspected militants fired UBGL towards CRPF camp located in main Chowk near SBI Bank in Sopore town.
A CRPF official said that the UBGL exploded with a bang and in the incident, no loss of life or injury were reported from the forces side.
However, reports said a passerby identified as Irshad Ahmed Mir son of Bashir Ahmed Mir resident of Checkrodey Khan area of Sopore received splinter injuries in the attack and were rushed to Sub District hospital Sopore for treatment.
BMO Sopore Dr Sami said that the youth was received by the hospital and is being operated upon. The BMO said that the condition of the youth is stated to be stable.
Meanwhile, the internet has been also suspended in the parts of Sopore for precautionary measures.
Hajin gunfight: A gunfight broke out in Hajin area of north Kashmir’s Bandipora district on Thursday.
Reports said a joint team of Army’s 13RR, CRPF and SOG launched a cordon at Mir Mohalla of Hajin.
A police officer said the operation was launched following credible inputs about the presence of some militants in the area.
As the joint team of forces approached the suspected house, the hiding militants fired upon government forces, triggering an encounter.
SSP Bandipora Rahu Malik told GNS that forces had cordoned the suspected house earlier but the operation was delayed due to evacuation of civilians near the encounter site.
A police officer said members of local Auqaf committee and a magistrate were brought to the encounter site to persuade the hiding militants to release the civilian “taken hostage by them”.
According to police sources, a girl who was taken hostage was evacuated by the joint team of forces while a minor boy is still in the house. His fate is not known so far, the official said.
As per sources, two militants are believed to be trapped in the house. (With inputs from GNS)
