Firefight on Srinagar outskirts: Two ultras killed, jawan hurt

Srinagar, Mar 16 : Two militants were killed and a Central Reserve Police Force jawan was injured in a firefight in the wee hours on Friday in Khanmoh area on the outskirts of Srinagar, a police spokesman said.

A Cordon and Search Operation was launched at Balhama, Khanmoh, on the city outskirts on Thursday after a group of ultras attacked Bharatiya Janata Party leader Mohammad Anwar Khan and tried to snatch weapons from his two Personal Security Officers.

The attack was repulsed but the militants opened fire in which a PSO, identified as Bilal Ahmad, was injured. Ahmad was admitted to 92 Army base hospital. Mr Khan escaped unhurt in the attack.

During a search of the area, militants hiding there opened fire with automatic weapons in which a CRPF jawan was injured, the spokesman said.

Security forces retaliated. Additional reinforcements were rushed and the entire area was sealed to thwart any attempt by the ultras to escape.

In the wee hours, the bodies of two militants were recovered near the site of the gunbattle, he said, adding that arms and ammunition, besides other incriminating material, were also recovered. The operation has ended.

The slain militants were identified by their families as Rasiq Nabi Bhat of Tral and Shabir Dar of Awantipora, according to the spokesman. As per police records, Bhat and Dar had joined militancy last year in the month of March and August.

The bodies have been handed over to their legal heirs for last rites. Further investigation was on.

Official sources, meanwhile, said that another Cordon and Search Operation was launched in Hajin area in the north Kashmir district of Bandipora.

On a tip off about the presence of militants Rashtriya Rifles, Special Operation Group of Jammu and Kashmir police and CRPF launched a joint search operation at Khosa and Syed Mohalla Hajin in Bandipora district early this morning. However, when the security forces were sealing these areas, there were some firing shots.

All exit points had been sealed and a massive search operation has been launched, they said.

According to the sources, reinforcements have been deployed outside the cordoned off area to prevent any demonstration.