Fierce gun battle underway in Shopian

Srinagar, August 12

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A fierce gunfight is underway between militants and forces in south Kashmir’s Shopian district. There are reports that Hizbul Mujahideen top commander along with two to three other militants are trapped in the area.

The gunfight broke at Awneera village, some 70 km from Srinagar, when joint teams of the police, Army and CRPF launched an operation in the area after an input that militants were holding a meeting in a local mosque.

“As the search operation was launched this evening, militants hiding in the area opened fire to break the cordon, triggering an encounter that is still underway,” said a security officer. “There are no reports of any casualty so far,” he said. Intense clashes erupted in the area as protesters from neighbouring village tried to march towards the gunfight site to disrupt the anti-militancy operation.

However, heavy deployment of the police and CRPF are tackling the protesters.

As the gunfight is underway in Shopian, another cordon and search operation has been launched in neighbouring Kulgam district. The search operation was launched at Matalhama, Kulgam, following an input about militant presence. “No contact with any militant has been established as yet. Heavy stone-throwing is going on in the area,” a police official said. — TNS