Shopian encounter; Army havaldar, two militants killed

Srinagar: Two unidentified militants and Army havaldar were killed in an encounter which ensued on late Saturday evening during a Cordon and Search Operation (CASO) in south Kashmir district of Shopian, a defence ministry spokesman said on Sunday.
The operation is over after bodies of both the slain militants were recovered.
Meanwhile, mobile internet remained suspended in Shopian since last night.
Giving details about the encounter he said troops of Rashtriya Rifles (RR), Special Operation Group (SOG) of Jammu and Kashmir police and CRPF launched a joint search operation at village Wanga, Shopian late Saturday evening.
However, when the security forces were moving towards a particular area in the village, militants hiding there opened fire, he said adding security forces retaliated ensuing in an encounter.
Trapped militants were asked to surrender who continued firing, he said.
In the initial encounter a militant was killed and two soldiers injured. Later Havaldar Pinku Sharma died while another was shifted to 92 Base hospital, Srinagar.
He said encounter continued during the night in which another militant was killed.
One MI one and one AK rifle were recovered from the slain militants who were identified as Inatullah Shiekh and Adil Malik.
Earlier, militants were repeatedly asked to surrender.
Meanwhile, additional security forces and police have been deployed in he adjoining areas to prevent any law and order problem.