SRINAGAR: Gunfight between militants and the government forces that began on Saturday continued in Rawalpora area of Shopian on Monday as fresh firing exchanges started.

An official said that the firing has been resumed after a lull of several hours and the encounter is still going on.

Locals said that at least five houses were severely damaged in the fire and several youth were injured during clashes.

Earlier, Police had said that one militant was killed during the gunfight on Sunday.

A police spokesperson identified the slain militant as Jahangir Ahmad Wani, a resident of Rakh Narapora Shopian, affiliated with the proscribed outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba. Wani has been active since September 2020.

He said once the presence of militants was ascertained on Saturday they were given the opportunity to surrender, however, they fired indiscriminately. “Due to darkness, the operation was suspended however the cordon remained intact throughout night. In the morning, repeated announcements were again made asking hiding militants to surrender, but the militants fired on joint search party which was retaliated and so far one terrorist has been killed, “ he said.

The spokesman said that during the encounter, three houses caught fire. He said that a group of “miscreants” also tried to disrupt the operation and created a law and order problem near the encounter site during which some of them were also injured.

A US-made rifle and armour piercing bullets were recovered from the site. “The recoveries include one M4 carbine, three magazines, 36 armour piercing rounds and some cash,” he said.

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