SRINAGAR: Cordon and Search Operation (CASO), launched by security forces in south Kashmir district of Kulgam, was called off in the wee hours of Saturday after holed up militants reportedly escaped under the cover of darkness following brief firing besides protests by locals.
Official sources said that the operation was called off after no fresh contact was established with the militants during the massive searches in village Churith Devsar Qazigund in Kulgam district at 0100 hrs.
The CASO was launched at 1800 hrs Friday evening following a tip off about the presence of two to three militants in the area.
There was also brief firing when the security forces were sealing exit points, sources said.
Later, people of nearby villages hit the streets and tried to march towards the area where CASO was going on. Security forces resorted to aerial firing and used force to disperse the demonstrators who were pelting stones and also trying disrupt the CASO.
It is believed that the militants managed to escape under the cover of darkness when demonstrations were going on in the area, they said. Earlier, this week on December 4, three militants of Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT), including a Divisional Commander and one soldier, were killed and two jawans injured in a fierce encounter which ensued after an Army convoy from Jammu to Srinagar was attacked at Bongam, Kulgam. (AGENCIES)
Follow our WhatsApp channel
