Three JeM militants holed up in Tral encounter

Anantnag: An encounter is underway at Pinglish village of Tral in Pulwama and three Jaish-e-Mohammad militants are believed to be holed up in a house. After the initial exchange of fire for about an hour, there has been a lull. “The operation is on. The firing has stopped and we are combing the site but we are yet to find any bodies of the militants,” said SSP, Awantipora, Tahir Saleem. The operation started about 3.30 pm on Sunday following inputs regarding the presence of militants in the area. A joint team of the Army, CRPF and the police launched a cordon and search operation (CASO) in the area. “As the CASO was being initiated, the militants hiding in a residential house opened fire at security forces,” said a police official. He said the fire was retaliated. Local sources said security forces used explosives to blow apart the house in which the militants were holed up. “The forces are yet to leave the area,” the source said. oc