18-hour-long Srinagar encounter ends; 3 militants killed, 5 SF personnel injured

Srinagar, Dec 9: Three militants were killed and five security force personnel were injured in an 18-hour-long encounter, which ensued on Saturday afternoon after forces launched a Cordon and Search Operation (CASO) in Srinagar outskirts.


Meanwhile, authorities have suspended internet services in the summer capital, Srinagar, as a precautionary measure to prevent spreading of rumours.


Official sources said following specific information about the presence of militant, a joint CASO was launched by Rashtriya Rifles (RR), Special Operation Group (SOG) of Jammu and Kashmir police and CRPF at Mujgund in Srinagar outskirts.

“All the exit points were sealed and house to house search operation was initiated,” they said.

However, when the security forces were moving towards a particular area in the village, militants resorted to indiscriminate firing, they said, adding security forces retaliated ensuing in an encounter.

They said two militants were killed in the encounter on Saturday, adding five security force personnel were also injured in the exchange of fire.

They said when security forces tried to move inside the damaged structure to remove the bodies, a third militant started to fire at the forces in the wee hours on Sunday.

“The third militant, believed to be a foreigner, gave tough time to forces as he was constantly changing
locations,” they said.


They said the militant was gunned down on Sunday morning. “Five residential houses were blasted by forces during the encounter,” the locals alleged.

Meanwhile, intense clashes between protesters, mostly youth, and security forces were going on near the encounter site when the reports last came in.