Srinagar, March 21 (KNO) : The Kashmir on Thursday woke up to the three major encounters—at Hajin in north Kashmir’s Bandipora, Sopore in Baramulla and Kreeri again in Baramulla district as well.
In Hajin, one militant was killed while as police claimed that two boys were held hostages by the militants in a house in Hajin where foreign militants were believed to be hiding.
Clashes between youth and forces were also witnessed near the gunfight sites at Hajin, Sopore and Kreeri, witnesses said. “Two boys were made hostages by the militants in Hajin of which one was rescued while efforts to rescue other were on,” additional director general of police (ADGP) Munir Khan told KNO.
One unidentified militant was also killed in Hajin, however, there was no official confirmation about his killing. However, police sources said that in Hajin, militants numbering two were believed to be foreigners. “Gunfight erupted between militants and forces in Mir Mohalla of Hajin in Bandipora district on. Joint team of forces had cordoned off the Mir Mohalla in Hajin to flush out militants,” an official told KNO.
As the forces approached the area hiding militants opened fire leading to gunfight. A police official said that the gunfight was on in Hajin area though there were reports of killing of one militant.
SECOND ENCOUNTER: The second gunfight raged between forces and militants in Warpora are of Sopore in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district.
Official sources told KNO that contingents of Army 22 RR, SOG Sopore,177 and 179CRPF and Police cordon off warpora village in wee hours. As the forces intensified the searches, hiding militants in the area opened fire, leading to a gun fight which was going on when last reports came in.
The army has already rushed more reinforcement in the area, they said. A police officer confirmed to KNO that the encounter and said that the cordon was launched following specific inputs in the village. Sources said two Jash -e- Mohammad militants are believed to be trapped in a house.
Witnesses said that group of protestors trying to disrupt the operations hurled bricks and rocks at the forces who were part of the outer cordon. “The forces responded by firing tear smoke shells to disperse the protestors. The gunfight was on as the intermittent firing was going on,” an official said.
THIRD GUNFIGHT: Two unidentified militants were killed while as three Army men were injured in an encounter that raged between forces and militants in Kalantara Kandi Kreeri village of Baramulla North Kashmir.
Official sources told KNO that two militants were killed in the operation while as one officer among three Army men have also sustained injuries.
They said the injured troopers have been evacuated to 92 Base Hospital.
They said operation is still in progress.
Earlier, after hours of searches and lull, militants fired at the forces during the search operation triggering a fresh encounter putting speculations to rest that they had managed to escape after brief shootout in Kalantara Kandi Kreeri village of Baramulla North Kashmir. This is the third encounter of the day.
Official sources told KNO that 29 RR, SOG Kreeri, CRPF and Police Launched Cordon and Search operation in Kalantara Kandi village following inputs about the presence of militants in the area.
After the nine hours long CASO hiding militants opened fire on joint party which triggered brief shootout after that there was a lull but after hours of continued searches, the encounter restarted.
Police SPEAKS: A top police official told KNO that the all three encounters were going on. “The highlight of the Hajin encounter is that militants had held two youth as hostages of which one was freed and efforts were on to rescue the second one,” he said.(KNO)