Three days ahead of I-Day, cop killed in encounter

Three days ahead of Independence Day, a policeman was killed while four others were injured in a gunfight between militants and security forces in Batmaloo area in Srinagar on Sunday. The militants reportedly managed to escape from the encounter site.

The place where the encounter took place is barely two kilometres away from the venue, where the official Independence day function is scheduled to take place.

Reports said the encounter started after a joint team of special operations group (SOG) of police and paramilitary Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) launched a cordon-and-search-operation (CASO) in the congested Deyarwani area of Batmaloo during the wee hours of Sunday.

As the joint search party laid the cordon around the targeted house, the hiding militants fired upon them triggering an encounter, reports added.

State police chief Shesh Pal Vaid said the CASO was launched on specific information about the presence of militants in a hideout. “In the exchange of fire, one SOG personnel killed, one JKP & 2 CRPF Jawans sustained injuries, operation continues (sic),” he tweeted.

The slain policeman was identified as constable Parvaiz. Reports said the house owner, where the militants were hiding, identified as Neyaz Bhat also received injuries during the encounter.

Sources said that the militants, believed to be two to three in number, managed to escape from the house. Additional reinforcements were rushed to the area and according to the sources a massive hunt has been launched to trace out the militants.

Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kashmir, Swayam Prakash Pani said two “militant accomplices” were arrested while a “major hideout” was busted in the area.

He said apparently one militant was injured in the gunfight and searches are underway to trace out him and other militants.

In the wake of a gunfight, mobile Internet service was snapped in Srinagar as a “precautionary measure.”

Meanwhile, a wreath-laying ceremony was held for slain policeman Parvaiz at District Police Lines Srinagar. A police spokesperson said the senior civil and police officers paid rich tributes to the policeman and laid floral wreaths on the mortal remains.