Srinagar, January 05 (KNO) : As the Tral gunfight that raged between forces and militants continued since Saturday morning, the officials on this evening said that no dead body was recovered yet from the encounter site in Aripal area of Tral in South Kashmir’s Pulwama district.
Sources told KNO that after the house in which militants were hiding was razed to rubble, forces started clearing debris and sanitation process however despite clearing whole debris no dead body was found however search operation is on in the area.
Earlier, on Saturday morning encounter started between government forces and militants after forces launched cordon and search operation in the area. Officials said that forces including 42 RR of Rashtriya Rifles, SOG of Police and 180 BN of CRPF lunched jointly search operation in the area.
During the operation, the hiding militants fired on the forces triggering a gunfight, two to three local militants were initially believed to be trapped in the area. Earlier officials had said that one militant has been killed in the gunfight.
Meanwhile, reports said that Hammad Khan who was initially believed to have been killed in the gunfight, appeared at his native area in Seer Jagir and fired in the air to show that he has escaped from the spot and is alive.
Reports also suggest that announcements on loudspeakers of Masjids were also made that Hammad has managed to escape from the site.
However as per sources search operation is on in the area. Meanwhile, during day long clashes between government forces and protesters, about half dozen civilians were injured.
Locals said as soon as news after the encounter and later killing of Umar Fayaz@ Hammad Khan spread in the area, hundreds of people marched towards the site and started pelting stones on the government forces which was retaliated by aerial firing, tear smoke and sounds shells resulted in injuries to several people.
Furthermore, a complete shutdown was observed in Tral and its adjacent area and internet services were also suspended in Pulwama district.(KNO)