Srinagar
Clashes broke out between the youth and government forces on Wednesday in the main town of Islamabad following an encounter between militants and governments forces.
Reports said that following the gunfight in Mehmaan mohalla in Lal Chowk, scores of the youth from several areas of Islamabad town took to the streets shouting anti-governmental and pro-freedom slogans.
Meanwhile, restrictions have been imposed in the town to thwart any protests in the town, all entry and exit points to Lal Chowk have been blocked with barricades.
Earlier, an official said that encounter started after a joint team of army’s 1 Rashtriya Rifles, SOG and CRPF laid a siege at Mehmaan Mohalla in Lal Chowk. The cordon-and-search operation was launched in the area since midnight today.
Locals of the area said that heavy firing and blast like sounds are being heard since 4:00 am which created panic in the entire Lal Chowk area of the southern district.
An official said that the joint team of forces launched the cordon in the area following specific inputs about the presence of some militants.
As the searches were intensified in the area which is very congested, the militants fired upon the forces party triggering off an encounter, he said.
He said that two to three militants are believed to be trapped inside a residential house in the area.
Meanwhile, train and internet services in the area have also been suspended.
