Srinagar, Oct 12 (UNI) Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kashmir, Vijay Kumar on Monday said that a Pakistani national is among two militants who are trapped in the summer capital, Srinagar, where an encounter was underway since early morning.



“Pakistani militant, identified as Saifullah, who was responsible for attack on CRPF at Nowgam in Srinagar last week that left two jawans dead and three others injured, was among two militants trapped at Barzulla,” Mr Kumar told reporters near the Srinagar encounter site.



He said the other trapped militant is a Pulwama resident. “Saifullah is affiliated to Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT),” he said, adding the militant is also responsible for an attack on CRPF at Chadoora in Budgam in which an Assistant Sub Inspector (ASI) was killed in September.



“The operation will take some time because we are taking all precautions to avoid any collateral damage. All the residents have been evacuated to safer places,” he said, adding the information about the presence of militants in the area was received last night.



A UNI correspondent, who is near the encounter site, heard loud explosions and heavy firing from the site.



Official sources said that following specific information about presence of militants, a joint CASO was launched by Special Operations Group of J&K police and CRPF at Barzulla in uptown Srinagar on Monday morning.



However, they said when security forces were moving towards a particular area, militants hiding there, fired at them with automatic weapons. “The security forces retaliated, ensuing in an encounter,” they said.



They said additional security forces have been rushed to further cordon off the area to foil any attempts by militants to escape. “Security forces have also been deployed in strength in adjoining areas to maintain law and order,” they said, adding that the exchange of fire was going on when the reports last came in.

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