Major Success Against Militancy in North Kashmir: Sahai
KL Report
Sopore
Five suspected militants were killed in a gunbattle with government forces in north Kashmir’s Sopore area, police and security officials said Tuesday.
The forces of SOG Sopore, 22 RR and CRPF had launched a joint search operation last night in the area on a tip-off about the presence of militants in Saidpora
village, a police spokesman said.
An army officer, who said the operation was going on under his supervision, claimed that during the operation, one residential house was blasted which damaged a cowshed as well and five militants have been killed so far.
However, a police statement said four militants were killed in the encounter.
“In a major success against militants in north Kashmir, four militants were killed in an encounter on Tuesday in Sadapora, Sopore,” the statement said.
Inspector General of Police, SM Sahai, who visited the spot, claimed the killing of militants was a major success in the fight against militancy in the north Kashmir. “It is a recent group that moved from north Kashmir as Lashkar-e-Toiba has depleted in Sopore,” the IG said.
Superintendent of J&K Police, Sopore, Imtiaz Hussain Mir, said the police received an input regarding the presence of armed militants in Sadapora, Sopore. “A joint operation was launched by Sopore police and 22 RR in wee hours Tuesday and four militants have been killed in the encounter so far. The identity of the slain militants is being ascertained. However, initial investigation has shown that the militants belong to the LeT outfit,” Mir said.
According to locals, one slain in the encounter has been identified as Atir, a Class 10 student of model town Sopore. Sources said Atir had recently joined militant ranks.
