Terrorists escape cordon; one held with live grenade

SRINAGAR : Holed up terrorists managed to give escape the security forces’ cordon after a brief gunfight in Bandipora while police overpowered a person before he could lob a hand grenade on Srinagar-Jammu national highway in south Kashmir district of Pulwama

Security forces called off Cordon and Search Operation (CASO) launched in the wee hours on Friday, in Hajin area of north Kashmir district of Bandipora after terrorists managed to escape.

Officials informed on a tip off about the presence of terrorists 13 Rashtriya Rifles (RR), Special Operation Group (SOG) of Jammu and Kashmir police and 45 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 area, there were some firing shots, they said.

Security forces also retaliated and the exchange continued for some time. All exit points have been sealed and a massive search operation has been launched, they said.

Meanwhile, additional security forces have been deployed outside the cordoned off area to prevent any demonstration, they said.

However, there were some incidents of stone pelting in the area, they said adding later during the search operation no terrorist was found. It is believed that terrorists had managed to escape under the cover of darkness. Later the CASO was called off.

Meanwhile, Jammu and Kashmir police on Friday overpowered a person before he could lob a hand grenade on Srinagar-Jammu national highway in south Kashmir district of Pulwama.

A police spokesman said this evening that at about 1300 hours, a police party deployed for law and order duties on National Highway near Padgampora noticed a suspicious movement of a person who was subsequently asked to stop.

However, when the suspected person was trying to get some suspicious object out of his pocket, the police party overpowered him and carried out his personal search.

During the search, one live hand grenade was recovered from his possession.

On questioning, the he identified himself as Ajaz Ahmad Bhat son of Ghulam Mohammad Bhat resident of Dangerpora Padgampora.

He was immediately taken into custody and a case FIR number 41 of 2018 under section 7/25 Arms Act was registered in Police Station Awantipora. The investigation into the matter has been taken up, spokesman said.