Gunfight in southern Kashmir leaves three Hizb militants dead
SRINAGAR (J&K) — A gunfight, which erupted in the Kashmir valley’s southern district of Shopian last evening, resulted in the killing of three militants belonging to the Hizbul Mujahideen outfit.
The gunfight erupted on Tuesday evening after government forces including Army’s 44RR, Special Operations Group (SOG) from local Police and CRPF while acting on specific inputs, launched a Cordon and Search Operation (CASO) in Sugan village of the southern district and encircled the suspected spot. Soon afterwards, the exchange of gunfire took place.
According to police officials, the militants were given an opportunity to surrender but they didn’t respond positively to the forces’ offer.
Meanwhile, the slain local militants, among which one was newly recruited, were identified as Sajad Malla from Maldera village of Shopian district, Junaid Rasheed from Tumlahal village and Mehraj Din from Arigam village of Pulwama district.
Mobile Internet services have also been snapped in the area to ‘avoid spread of rumours’.
However, two persons sustained pellet injuries after clashes erupted between government forces and local youth in the village Sugan where gunfight took place as per local media reports. Incidentally, the duo were brothers.
The injured, identified as Ehsan Maqbool and Basit Maqbool from Sugan village, were shifted to District Hospital Pulwama, wherefrom they were referred to SMHS Hospital Srinagar for ‘advanced treatment’.