2 militants, soldier killed in Sopore gunfight

Sopore: Two militants and a soldier were killed in an encounter at Druso Behrampora village of Sopore town here in North Kashmir’s Baramula district on Friday.
The gunfight had started after contact was established with militants during a cordon and search operation (CASO) launched late last night.
Police said the joint patrol of the government forces on Thursday night launched searches at Dursoo area in Dangiwacha Sopore after it received credible inputs about the presence of militants in the area.
A police spokesperson said: “While the searches in the area were going on, aware about militants’ presence, police made efforts to persuade the hiding militants to surrender but they were unrelenting and fired on the search party initiating a gunfight.”
“In the ensuing encounter, two militants were eliminated by the security forces. The killed militants were affiliated with proscribed militant outfit LeT and their identity is being ascertained,” the spokesman said.
“Moreover in the encounter two security forces’ personnel were also injured who were subsequently shifted to the nearby hospital for medical treatment. One of the injured soldiers succumbed to his injuries.”
“Some arms and ammunition were also recovered from the site of encounter. Police has registered a case and investigation has been initiated in the instant matter,” said police spokesman in a statement.
In wake of the encounter, the internet service in parts of Sopore were suspended while massive deployment was made to maintain law and order in the district.
Meanwhile, clashes erupted in South Kashmir’s Pulwama district after a news spread there that one among the two militants killed in Sopore is a B.Tech student from the district. Youth pelted stones on police station Pulwama while shopkeepers lowered their shutters. The situation remained tense throughout the day in the district.
In Kupwara, where two militants were killed yesterday, clashes erupted between army and people resulting in the injuries of a teenagers boy Danish Ahmed Lone, 14, who received two bullet in lower abdomen in Thayan Kalaroos