1 policeman killed, 3 injured as encounter breaks out with militants in J-K’s Batmaloo area in Srinagar

A policeman with the special operations group (SOG) was killed in an encounter with militants in Jammu and Kashmir’s Batmaloo area in Srinagar on Sunday.

Three security personnel were also injured in the gun fight that broke out when a raid was launched in the area after police received specific information about a hideout. The cordon triggered had an exchange of fire in the highly congested area.

“On a specific information about presence of terrorists in a hideout, an operation was launched in Batmaloo Srinagar leading to exchange of fire, one SOG boy martyred, one JKP & 2 CRPF Jawans sustained injuries,” SP Vaid, director general of police of Jammu & Kashmir posted on Twitter.

He added that the operation is ongoing.

Authorities also suspended mobile internet services in the capital.

The encounter comes just days after five militants were killed by security forces in Rafiabad, Baramulla district. It also comes a day after inspector general of police, Kashmir, SP Pani held a meeting to review security readiness for Independence Day on August 15 in the capital.

Kashmir has witnessed an increasing number of gunfights between security forces and militants in August, including infiltration attempts across the Line of Control.

So far, 23 persons, including 16 militants, five army men and, a policeman have been killed in six encounters in August while a civilian was killed in protests after one of the encounters.

First Published: Aug 12, 2018 07:51 IST