Fayaz Bukhari
Srinagar, May 17: Two militants were killed in two separate encounters between militants and security forces in Kupwara and Shopian districts of North and South Kashmir today while Indian and Pakistani troops exchanged fire in Uri sector.
A senior police officer said that one militant was killed in an encounter between security forces and militants in Zunrishi Chowkibal forest area of North Kashmir’s Kupwara district.
The officer said that a Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) militant was killed during an encounter started after security forces launched a cordon and search operation in the Zunrishi forest area following specific information about a group of militants hiding in the area. “At around 6 am today, the exchange of fire began. Search operation is ongoing to trace the other militants believed to be hiding in the forest area,” he said.
Sources said that police and Army received information about presence of 5-6 militants of LeT hiding in Zunrishi forest area last evening. He said that the group has recently infiltrated into the area and was being tracked for last one week.
They said that one militant was killed and other members fled under the cover of darkness. More troops have been rushed to the area and massive forest area has been cordoned off to track the members of the group.
In the meantime, one militant of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen was also killed in a brief gun battle that raged between militants and security forces in Pehlipora village of South Kashmir’s Shopian district.
A police officer said that the encounter started last evening when security forces laid a cordon around the area and militants fired at them. “In the exchange of fire, one militant, identified as Farooq Ahmad Sheikh, a resident of Nazneenpora was killed”, he added.
Sources said that the two members of the group managed to flee as the gun battle started. Security forces launched massive search operation against them, however, they were not traced out.
A Defence spokesman said here that in two different operations today the security forces gunned down two militants in North and South Kashmir. “One HM terrorist was gunned down in a swift counter terrorist operation conducted by security forces during the intervening night of 16/17 May 2016 at Pahlipora village in South Kashmir’s Shopian district. While another unidentified terrorist was killed in Chowkibal, Kupwara in North Kashmir”, the spokesman said.
“Based on information about the presence of terrorists in Pahlipora village, near Shopian, a joint operation was launched by the Army and JKP yesterday night. As the security forces closed in, the terrorists hiding in the orchard opened fire following which a gun battle ensued which continued intermittently through out the night resulting in elimination of one terrorist, identified as Farooq Ahd Sheikh R/o Nazimpura, Kulgam. The terrorist was involved in many acts of terror. One AK 56 Rifle, ammunition and other war like stores were recovered from the terrorist. In another ongoing operations in Zunreishi Chowkibal the Security Forces have so far eliminated one terrorist whose identity is yet to be established”, the spokesman said.
A senior security official said that Pakistani Rangers fired at Indian posts in Lacchipora sector of Uri last evening. The fire was returned by the Indian troops, however, no one was injured. The firing lasted for half an hour and it is believed that it was a localized issue between the Pakistani Rangers and Indian Army soldiers posted in the area.
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