Fayaz Bukhari
Srinagar, Aug 22: A fierce gun battle broke out in Sopore in North Kashmir this evening between a group of militants and Special Operations Group of Jammu and Kashmir Police and Army.
The SOG Sopore and 27, 47, 30 Rashtriya Rifles (RR) of Army launched an operation in the forest area at Gujjar Pati area of Zaloora, 15, kilometers from Sopore town.
Security forces had information about the presence of four militants in the area, three of them foreigners. The troops established contact with the militant group this evening.
A brief gun battle took place but militants managed to escape under the cover of darkness. More troops were rushed to the area and entire forest area has been cordoned off to seal all escape routes of the militant group.
Police and Army also cordoned off Pampore area of Pulwama after a tip off about the presence of militants in the area, However, the cordon and search operation was called off and no militant was found in the area.
The area saw series of attacks last week in which six persons including a civilian were killed and 12 Border Security Force (BSF) men were injured.
Following these attacks in Pampore and Pulwama last week, over two dozen persons were detained by Police in Pulwama area. These persons are being questioned.
In the meantime, Police and Army today recovered huge quantity of arms and ammunition from Villgam area of Handwara in North Kashmir’s Kupwara district last evening.
Police said that acting on specific information, Handwara Police and 6 Rashtriya Rifles of Army launched search operation at Einch Hafrada Forests in Villgam area of District Handwara last evening. “During the search operation a hideout was busted,” he said.
The recoveries include one Pika gun, three AK-47 rifles, three AK 56 rifles, one pistol, 18 RPG boosters, one anti aircraft gun stand, six RPG rounds, 10 RC IED, eight AK magazines, 13 hand grenades, 38 UBGL grenades, one RPG booster mark II, one wireless set ICON, two wireless antennas, one map, one compass, 838 AK rounds, 39 detonators and one pouch.
Meanwhile, the car from which large cache of arms and ammunition was recovered had been stolen from Srinagar. Police sources said that the owner of the Maruti car has lodged a theft report in Police Station, Ranbagh.
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