SRINAGAR: The overnight gun battle that started Thursday evening in Panjarn village in the Lassipora belt of Pulwama is over. Police said they have recovered four dead bodies which include the bodies of two missing Special Police Officials (SPO) who went missing on Thursday.
During the initial thaw in the gun battle last evening, the police had recovered one of the bodies. Later, in the midnight, the house went up in flames. During wee hours on Friday, the police said they have recovered four corpses from the encounter site.
Police sources confirmed the killing of two SPOs in the encounter. They were identified as Salman Khan son of Bashir Khan, a resident of Wuthamul and Shabir Ahmad Dar son of Hashim Dar, a resident of Tujan. The two SPOs were posted with the District Police Lines and had fled with their weapons two days back.
The two militants were identified as Imran Ahmad Bhat son of Mohammad Yousuf Bhat resident of Arihal and Asif Hussain Ganbai alias Talha son of Abdul Khaliq Ganai, a residemnt of Panjran village, the village where the encounter took place. Police said the militant duo were from Jaish-e-Muhammad.
Reports from the Litter belt of Pulwama suggest that clashes between the youth and cops have resumed at a few places and the authorities have withdrawn the internet facility. The mixed posse of the counter-insurgent forces comprised contingents of 44-Rashtriya Rifles, SOG Pulwama and the CRPF. The operation was launched after the security grid got specific information about the presence of the militants. The contact was established within minutes after the cordon and search operation was tightened.
