Srinagar: An encounter broke out between security forces and militants in south Kashmir’s Shopian district on Saturday, police said here.
The security forces had launched a cordon-and-search operation in a forest area of Choor Ki Gali in Herpora of Shopian, following information about the presence of militants there, a police official said.
He said the search operation turned into an encounter after the militants opened fire at the security personnel, who then retaliated.
The gunfight is still underway, the official added.
Local news agency KNO reported that after brief exchange of fire between security forces and militants at Choor ki Gali, the militants are believed to have escaped from the spot.
The news agency quoted a senior police official saying that after initial exchange of fire, contact with militants was lost and there was no fresh exchange of fire.
He said that militants seem to have managed to escape from the spot , however, searches are underway in the area.
The official said that helicopter and para-commandos were also pressed into the service but so far no fresh contact with the militants has been established.
“Given the dense forest area and no mobile connectivity, the operation in the area is very tough and as of now searches are underway,” he added.
Meanwhile, Police on Saturday arrested ten protestors for allegedly indulging in stone-pelting on a joint team of Police, Army and CRPF during yesterday’s gunfight in which three militants were killed in Kakapora area of south Kashmir’s Pulwama district.
District Police Awantipora confirmed on Twitter the arrest of the ten “miscreants” for “creating law and order disturbances near Kakapora encounter site”.
In a statement, police said that the protestors were video-graphed at the gunfight site while they “attempted to disrupt security forces by pelting stones on them and by raising anti-national slogans”, adding they have been arrested and booked under relevant sections of law.
“Efforts for arrest of other involved youth are on and all involved persons will be booked accordingly,” the statement said.
“It is made clear that these incidents will not be tolerated and parents should restrain their children from indulging in such activities,” statement added.
