2 army men martyred, Cap among 3 injured in Shopian encounter

SRINAGAR: Two army men were killed and three others, including a captain, injured in an encounter with militants in Shopian district of south Kashmir, the police said tonight.
Security forces launched a cordon and search operation today following information about presence of militants in Avneera village of Zainapora area of the district, a police official said.
He said as the security forces were conducting searches, the militants opened firing on them which was retaliated by the law enforcement personnel, triggering a gunfight.
Five soldiers were injured in the gun battle, he said, adding that they were evacuated to the 92 Base Hospital of the Army for treatment, where two among them succumbed to their injuries.
Reports from the village said stone-pelting protesters clashed with the security forces in the village to break the cordon around the village.
Seven civilians are also reported to have sustained pellet injuries during the clashes and have been shifted to hospital for treatment.
Police strongly denied rumours that a mosque was damaged during the gunfight between the security forces and the militants.