KL NEWS NETWORK
SRINAGAR
After heavy exchange of fire between the suspected militants and forces, police recovered bodies of two suspected militants from Agriculture Farm in Padgampora area of South Kashmir’s Pulwama district. The killing of these militants sparked widespread protests in multiple hamlets of the district, while police used tear-smoke shells to disperse the protesters.
Reports said that a group of militants present in Wandakhpora fields attacked forces who in a bid to encircle the militants had arrived in the area in private vehicles. After a brief exchange of fire, the militants managed to escape in a nearby Agriculture Farm at Padgampora.
A police official told CNS that they had received the information that 8 to 10 militants have convened a meeting and are present in Wandakhpora. “As the police and Army (50 and 55RR) arrived in the area, they came under attack from militants. The militants fled from the scene; however, we cordoned off a vast portion of Agriculture Farm. There was intermittent exchange of fire between militants and forces. After lull, we combed the area and recovered the bodies of two militants,” the official said.
Eyewitnesses said that shortly after the encounter between militants and forces commences, people from different hamlets of Pulwama district including Goripora, Pohu, Pinglen, Malangpora, Bandarpora, Lelhar tried to proceed towards encounter site. However, police halted their movement and used tear-smoke shells to disperse them. The protesters amid pro-freedom slogans resorted to heavy stone-pelting.
A police official on condition of anonymity said that at least six militants managed to escape from the encounter site.
Earlier Forces recovered an AK-47 rifle after a brief gunfight with the militants in Hadoora (Wanihama) village of Central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district.
Police sources said that after receiving inputs about the presence of militants in Wanihama area, police, Special Operation Group personnel and Army (5 RR) jointly cordoned off the area. The militants present in the area fired few shots prompting forces to retaliate.
Sources added that militants managed to escape from the scene; however they left an AK 47 rifle behind that was later on recovered by the government forces.
A top police official said that there was only one militant present in the area. “It is a congested area and we avoided collateral damage,” he said.
