Fayaz Bukhari
SRINAGAR, June 17: In a major success for security forces against militants in North Kashmir, two militants were killed in an encounter with security forces in Sopore today.
The Special Operations Group of Jammu and Kashmir Police, Sopore and Cargo, Srinagar and 22-Rashtriya Rifles (RR) cordoned off Bomai area of Sopore last night and this morning conducted searches after they received information about presence of two militants in the village.
The two militants opened fire on the advancing security forces, who retaliated. In the ensuing gunfight, two militants were killed. As soon as the operation ended, local residents started pelting stones at the security forces leading to clashes which were going on till evening.
Azad Ahmad Mir was hit by a teargas shell on the head during a clash between stone-pelting protesters and law enforcing agencies at Bomai village in Sopore township of Baramulla district. The clashes broke out shortly after security forces killed two militants holed up in the village during a cordon and search operations.
Superintendent of Police (SP) Sopore, Harmeet Singh, identified the killed militants as Altaf Ahmad Mir of Gundbrath, Sopore and Imtiyaz Ahmad of Wusan, Bandipora.
Singh said that the duo were asked to surrender but they didn’t give heed to repeated announcements by the security forces. He said that both the militants were with Hizbul Mujahideen and had joined the outfit recently.
Security forces recovered an AK-47 and one pistol from the dead militants. Their bodies were handed over to their relatives for burial. Thousands attended funeral of one of the militants at Gundbrath Sopore.
In the meantime, security forces busted three hideouts in Yadipora Bomai area of Sopore last night. Security forces conducted raids at several locations and busted three hideouts.
They recovered five rocket launchers, two AK-47 rifles, six magazines, one UBGL, one UBGL grenade, 10 police uniforms, one driller and one IED making equipment from these hideouts.
One of the hideout was constructed at the cost of Rs 80, 000 and the house owner was being paid Rs 3000 per month.
Meanwhile, panic gripped Kulgam in South Kashmir this afternoon when some gunmen opened indiscriminate firing at Main Chowk .
Gunmen appeared at Main Chowk, Kulgam and resorted to indiscriminate firing. Security forces deployed in the area also returned the fire but there was no report of any injury or loss of life in the firing. Later, security forces launched a massive hunt to nab the gunmen responsible for the firing.
In Srinagar security forces fired teargas shells and used batons to chase away stone-pelting protesters at different places.
Intense clashes between stone-pelting youth and security forces also rocked Jamia Masjid and adjoining areas in Srinagar shortly after Friday prayers.
Aqib Ahmad Bhat, a resident of Chatpora village of Pulwama district, suffered pellet injuries at Khanyar and was shifted to Soura Medical Institute for treatment.
Reports of protests were also received from Hyderpora in Srinagar and Anantnag town but there was no report of any injury.
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