Six injured in clashes as militants manage to escape

At least half a dozen protesters were injured during clashes with security forces which erupted following a brief gunfight between army and militants at Laddi village in south Kashmir's Shopian district on Sunday.

Reports said the militants, believed to be two to three in number, managed to escape following the brief shootout. Soon after the news of the gunfight spread, locals took to the streets and pelted stones on security forces, who used tear gas and fired pellets to disperse them, they said.

At least six protesters received injuries in the clashes. Among the injured, three persons were hit by pellets, health officials said.

Sources said after conducting searches in the area, a joint team of army, police and paramilitary CRPF called off the operation. On Saturday, three militants were killed by the army in danda forests of north Kashmir’s Bandipora district.

Nearly 150 militants have been killed by the security forces in Kashmir this year under ‘operation All Out.’ Last year 220 militants were killed in anti-insurgency operations by the army.

Despite the killing of 150 militants this year, official figures reveal that there were at least 200-250 militants still operating in the Kashmir Valley.