Two militant killed in Panthachowk encounter

Srinagar: Two militants have been killed in an encounter that broke out between militants and security forces in Delhi Public School building at Panthachowk in Srinagar outskirts on Sunday.
The encounter broke out around Saturday midnight after militants attacked a CRPF vehicle, killing an SI Sahab Shukla and injuring two others near the main entrance of DPS School and took refuge inside the one of the five huge buildings of DPS.
Police officials said the militants were cordoned off by the security forces including police, SOG, army and CRPF, on Saturday evening after they attacked the CRPF. “The exchange of gunfire started after midnight when the militants fired on security forces which were searching for them in a big building of the school that houses classrooms and offices,” the officials said.
They said that the gunfight lasted till the early morning today in which two militants were killed.
They said that at least three army soldiers were injured today during the operation in the building. “The army soldiers the three army personnel suffered injuries when the militants hiding inside Delhi Public School (DPS) fired upon them. The injured included an officer of Captain rank,” they said, adding the injured have been taken to a hospital.
On Saturday evening during Iftaar time, the militants had attacked a CRPF vehicle, killing an officer and injuring two others.
Militant outfit Lashkar-e-Toiba had claimed responsibility for the attack.
On Saturday, police said that about 20 employees of the DPS were safely evacuated from the campus of the school, that house more than five buildings, with each building have more than 100 rooms.
The District administration on Sunday imposed restrictions under Section 144 to avoid assembly of people and prevent protest and stone pelting near the encounter site.
“Restrictions under Sec 144 imposed from Ram Munshi Bagh to Sempora (around Pantha Chowk attack site) with immediate effect,” Srinagar’s Deputy Commissioner Farooq Ahmad Lone said.
The Highway was closed from Sempora towards Srinagar to avoid any untoward incident, the officials said.
Director General of Police, Dr S P Vaid told KNS that the two militants have been killed in the encounter by security forces.
Vaid said the bodies of the militants are lying in a classroom of the building.
Meanwhile, complete shutdown was observed in Kakapora town in Pulwama district against the killing of three militants and a civilian during an encounter with forces on Thursday.
Shops were shut and traffic was off the roads in the town. No vehicle is moving from Pulwama to Srinagar through Kakapora due to the shutdown. However, life in Pulwama town resumed on Saturday in view of the Eid-ul-Fitr on Monday.
The internet service in the district has been suspended from the last four days, giving tough times to the residents. (KNS)