Two militants killed in Sopore encounter

Two militants were killed in an encounter with security forces at Drusoo village of Sopore in north Kashmir's Baramulla district on Friday.

Reports said the encounter broke out after a joint team of army and police launched a cordon-and-search-operation (CASO) at Drusoo village of Sopore, 56 kms from here, late Thursday night.

During the night, security forces laid concertina wires around the area and installed generator sets for lighting purpose in the village to ensure militants don’t escape taking advantage of the darkness, reports added.

Superintend police (SP) Sopore, Javid Iqbal confirmed that a CASO was launched at Drusoo village following specific information about the presence of two militants inside a residential house. As the searches were underway, the hiding militants opened fire upon the forces triggering off a gunfight, he said.

The gunfight continued intermittently till wee hours today and so far one militant has been killed during the operation, the SP said, adding that fresh exchange of firing resumed at around 9:15 am.

The slain militant was identified as Reyaz Ahmad of Sopore while as the other militant is believed to be Khursheed Ahmad Malik, who was missing from Arabal Nikas, in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district since Tuesday. However, police have recovered only one body from the encounter site so far.

Reports said mobile Internet services were suspended while all educational institutional were closed in Sopore area. There were reports of minor stone-pelting in Sopore town following which the market got closed.