Two security men injured in ongoing Kashmir encounter
Zulfikar Majid, DH News Service, Srinagar, Mar 15 2018, 22:09 IST
Soon after the incident, the joint team of army, CRPF and special operation group (SOG) of police cordoned off the area and launched a hunt to nab the assailants. PTI file photo. For representation purpose
A paramilitary CRPF trooper was injured in an ongoing encounter between militants and security forces at Balhama area on the outskirts of Srinagar city on Thursday.
The encounter started after militants made an abortive bid to snatch a rifle from a policeman guarding state BJP leader Mohammad Anwar Khan near Arsh medical institute. The policeman identified as Bilal Ahmad suffered injuries in the attack.
Reports said intermittent firing continued as security forces have cordoned off the area, where two to three militants are believed to be hiding inside a residential house. Clashes erupted in the area as youth took to streets and pelted security forces with stones to disrupt the anti-militant operation.
Eyewitnesses said security forces fired tear gas shells to disperse the protesters, triggering further clashes. Reports of similar clashes were received from neighbouring Tral and Murran Chowk of south Kashmir's Pulwama district after news that two local militants were surrounded by the forces in Balhama.
In the initial exchange of fire, one CRPF trooper identified as Pradeep Kumar of 110 Battalion got injured, police said. He was shifted to army's 92 base hospital in Srinagar for treatment.
Hailed from south
The latest encounter comes three days after three militants were killed in south Kashmir's Anantnag district. J&K Police on Wednesday night verified that one of the slain militants was from southern city of Hyderabad, endorsing what 'Ansar Ghazwat ul Hind', al-Qaeda's Kashmir unit, had claimed.
"It is learnt that Md Toufeeq, age 26 years, N/o Manuguru died in an encounter with security forces on night 11/12march in Hakkora of Anantnag district along with two other Kashmiri militants. He was radicalised into Islamic State ideology through social media and went to Kashmir to participate in terrorist activities of ISIS. He was not wanted in any of the criminal cases in Telengana state. Further details are being verified...," J&K DGP Shesh Pal Vaid posted on Twitter.
The Qaeda's Kashmir unit is led by wanted militant leader Zakir Musa.
The encounter started after militants made an abortive bid to snatch a rifle from a policeman guarding state BJP leader Mohammad Anwar Khan near Arsh medical institute. The policeman identified as Bilal Ahmad suffered injuries in the attack.
Reports said intermittent firing continued as security forces have cordoned off the area, where two to three militants are believed to be hiding inside a residential house. Clashes erupted in the area as youth took to streets and pelted security forces with stones to disrupt the anti-militant operation.
Eyewitnesses said security forces fired tear gas shells to disperse the protesters, triggering further clashes. Reports of similar clashes were received from neighbouring Tral and Murran Chowk of south Kashmir's Pulwama district after news that two local militants were surrounded by the forces in Balhama.
In the initial exchange of fire, one CRPF trooper identified as Pradeep Kumar of 110 Battalion got injured, police said. He was shifted to army's 92 base hospital in Srinagar for treatment.
Hailed from south
The latest encounter comes three days after three militants were killed in south Kashmir's Anantnag district. J&K Police on Wednesday night verified that one of the slain militants was from southern city of Hyderabad, endorsing what 'Ansar Ghazwat ul Hind', al-Qaeda's Kashmir unit, had claimed.
"It is learnt that Md Toufeeq, age 26 years, N/o Manuguru died in an encounter with security forces on night 11/12march in Hakkora of Anantnag district along with two other Kashmiri militants. He was radicalised into Islamic State ideology through social media and went to Kashmir to participate in terrorist activities of ISIS. He was not wanted in any of the criminal cases in Telengana state. Further details are being verified...," J&K DGP Shesh Pal Vaid posted on Twitter.
The Qaeda's Kashmir unit is led by wanted militant leader Zakir Musa.