Neyaz Elahi
Shopian (NVI): A militant has been reportedly killed by forces in an ongoing encounter in south Kashmir’s Shopian as the gunfight is in the last stage, police official said.
The gunbattle raged between security forces including soldiers from 44 Rashtriya Rifles and militants after a siege was laid around Kanigam village in Shopian, they said.
As the search operation was launched, militants fired upon the search party, leading to an encounter. There was intermittent firing going on when this report was being filed.
Sources said that two trapped militants have been killed, however, a top official said that only one militant has been neutralised while the exchange of fire continues.
Police sources said that there were inputs about the presence of two militants in the village. Unconfirmed reports identified the trapped militants as Asif Ahmad Lone of Turkawangam in Shopian who went missing in the middle of June this year and Amir Hassan Bhat of Malbagh Shopian who joined militant ranks last month.
A police official said that the gunfight has entered into the last stage. He said militants were offered to surrender but they declined.
-ARK
