Kashmir: Shopian encounter enters 3rd day, LeT militant killed so far

Mobile internet remained suspended since Saturday night in Shopian as a precautionary measure to prevent rumours.

Meanwhile, three youths and a police constable were injured in clashes which erupted near the encounter site where security forces fired pellets, burst teargas shells and resorted to lathicharge to disperse the stone pelting demonstrators yesterday.

Official sources told UNI on Monday that with the first light security forces resumed searches at village Rawalpora in Shopian. However, when the security forces were conducting searches, militants hiding there opened indiscriminate firing, they said.

Security forces also retaliated ensuing in an encounter, they said adding operation was going on when the reports last came in. Sources said there was no firing since yesterday evening.

However, security forces remained deployed in strength in the entire area to prevent any attempt by militants to escape.

All roads leading to village Rawalpora remained closed for any pedestrian or traffic movement. People have been directed to remain indoor as a precautionary measure as operation was still going on.

Sources said on a tip off about the presence of militants in village Rawalpora, troops of Special Operation Group (SOG) of Jammu and Kashmir police, Rashtriya Rifles (RR) and CRPF launched a CASO late Saturday night.

However, when the security forces were sealing the area , militants hiding there opened indiscriminate firing with automatic weapons. Security forces also retaliated ensuing in an encounter, he said adding later due to darkness operation was stopped to avoid any civilian casualties.

With the first light this morning, security forces urged militants to surrender, he said adding militants hiding in a house continued firing.

A local LeT militant identified as Jahangir Ahmad Wani son of late Abdul Rehman Bhat, resident of Rakh Narpora Shopian was killed early Sunday morning. One US made M4 Carbine, three Magazines, 36 Armour piercing rounds and Rs 9600 were recovered from the slain militant.

Three residential houses, from where the militants were firing, were damaged after security forces fired mortars.

Meanwhile, people, mostly youths, on Sunday took to streets and started pelting stones to disrupt the CASO against militants.

However, when they tried to move towards the encounter area, security forces resorted to lathi charge followed by bursting of teargas shells to disperse the demonstrators. Later, security forces fired pellets to disperse them, sources said adding three youths received pellet injuries while a police constable was injured in stone pelting. All the injured were hospitalized.