Operation launched against Zakir Musa, associates

Security forces during cordon and search operation at Noorpora, Tral in Pulwama. -Excelsior/Younis Khaliq
Security forces during cordon and search operation at Noorpora, Tral in Pulwama. -Excelsior/Younis Khaliq

Excelsior Correspondent

SRINAGAR, Aug 11: Security forces today launched a cordon and search operation at Noorpora village of Tral in South Kashmir’s Pulwama district after suspecting presence of at least three militants including Zakir Musa.
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Army’s 42 Rashtriya Rifles (RR), 130 battalion of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and Special Operations Group (SOG) of Jammu and Kashmir Police, Awantipora, cordoned off Noorpora village and launched searches. The  youth pelted stones at the security forces during the operation and they fired tear gas to disperse them.
The operation was called off in the afternoon and re-launched after an hour as the security forces got intercept about presence of militants inside the village.
Sources said cordon and search operation will remain in place at Noorpora as they suspected presence of militants in a hideout inside the village.
Security forces also launched cordon and search operations in Pehlipora Shopian, Nawa Kadal and Zaldagar areas of downtown Srinagar today. However, no one was arrested during these operations.
And Indian and Pakistan troops today traded firing from small arms at Kamalkote sector of Uri in North Kashmir’s Baramulla district.
Sources said that the Pakistani troops targeted 20 Sikh and 8RR regiments of Army at Kamalkote at around 6.25 pm. The fire was retaliated by the Army. The exchange of fire continued for few minutes but there was no injury or fatality on either side.
Meanwhile, clashes and protests erupted in multiple parts in Valley today after Friday prayers against alleged attempts of abrogating Article 35-A of the Constitution.
The call for protests was issued by joint separatist leadership. Soon after Friday prayers were over, the activists of moderate Hurriyat Conference led by Mirwaiz Umar Farooq held a protest outside Jama Masjid in Nowhatta area of Srinagar. The protesters were carrying placards and warned of ‘serious consequences’ if the Article 35-A is scrapped.
While Hurriyat activists protested peacefully but dozens of youth assembled inside the compound of Jama Masjid and pelted stones on police and paramilitary personnel. The security personnel retaliated with stones and teargas canisters. The clashes in the area continued for many hours. However, no one was reported injured.
Dozens of Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) activists also staged a protest after Friday prayers here at Maisuma area of Lal Chowk while a similar protest was held at Hyderpora by hardline Hurriyat activists.
Clashes broke out between protesters and security forces at Nowdal and Batagund villages of Tral in South Kashmir’s Pulwama district after Friday prayers. The clashes also erupted in Tahab village of the Pulwama district. Police fired teargas against the stone-pelters. Clashes also erupted at Sopore and Hajin areas of North Kashmir’s Baramulla and Bandipora districts respectively.

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