Srinagar, May 4: A massive anti-militancy operation by government forces including sleuths of army and SOG(Special Operations Group) of Jammu & Kashmir police has triggered intense clashes in about 20 villages of south Kashmir’s Shopian district . However hunt for militants suspected to be hiding in the vilages is underway.
A police official said ‘operations have been launched in six villages falling under Zainapora area in Shopian after receiving insputs about movement of militants in the areas.A large number of security forces are involved in the search operations which began in the middle of the night but were hampered by small groups of people pelting stones at them’. He also said that additional forcesl have been rushed to the area to control the stone pelting. No casualties have been reported in the clashes between stone pelters and security forces, he said adding that the operations were in progress.
As reported already on Tuesday night, unidentified gunmen snatched five rifles from police guards posted at the Shopian district court complex in south Kashmir, the police said. The terrorists attacked the guard room of the court complex around 9 PM and snatched five self-loading rifles (SLRs). All the five policemen were suspended for the alleged dereliction of duty as they offered no resistance when the gunmen snatched rifles from them.
The incident took place a day after unidentified gunmen killing five policemen and too bank employees in an attack on J&K bank van in adjoining Kulgam district.
