Heavy deployment of forces at the encounter site in Tral.

SRINAGAR

The encounter in Tral village has led to the killing of two militants and a police man, officials said. The gun battle was reported from Hafoo Nazneenpora village on Weekend afternoon.

The slain cop was identified as Manazoor Ahmad Nayak, a resident of Slamabad Uri. Wreths were laid on his coffin at the District Police Lines Srinagar which was attended by the Education Minister Syed Altaf Bukhari, DGP S P Vaid and other senior officers.

Talking to reporters after wreath laying, Vaid said that they have killed two militants in the encounter. He identified one of them as Auqib Molvi, who was a Hizb ul Mujahideen recruit. He said his accomplice, who was also killed, was a foreigner. He did not offer his identity. However, civilian sources suggest that he was known as Hamad. His residence was not immediately known.

Wreath laying ceremony of slain policeman Manzoor Ahmad. Pic: Bilal Bahadur

Reports said that while the encounter led to the killed of three persons from both sides, there were four others who were injured. It included a Major rank officer, his two subordinates and a CRPF man. The encounter was a coordinated joint operation involving army, CRPF and the Special Operations Group (SOG). The encounter that was initiated on basis of specific information led to the destruction of the house where the militants were holed up.

The encounter coincided with the clashes between police and the local protesters who were keen to get closer to the site of clash. It led to injuries to four persons who were shifted to hospitals. Later, the government imposed curfew restrictions around Tral to prevent people from getting closer to the spot of the gun battle. Three of the four injured in the clash were hit by pellets, reports added.

Officials said the encounter is over. However, not many details were immediately available from the spot of the clash.

Rumours about the some key militants being trapped in the house had led to a sort of nocturnal unrest in parts of south Kashmir. These rumours died down after the police confirmed the casualties.

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