J&K: Militant killed in Sopore encounter

Srinagar, Feb 22: A militant was killed on Friday by security forces in an encounter in apple township of Sopore, where authorities suspended mobile internet and imposed restrictions under Section 144 CrPC to avoid any protest, official sources said.
Acting on a tip-off about the presence of militants, troops of Rashtriya Rifles (RR), Special Operation Group (SOG) of Jammu and Kashmir police and CRPF launched a joint search operation at Asthan Mohalla Warpora in Sopore late Thursday night. The entire area was cordoned off and house-to-house searches launched, they said. However, when the security forces were moving towards a particular area in the Warpora, the militants hiding there opened fire on the search party.
They said the fire was returned, ensuing in an encounter. Additional security forces were rushed to the area to further tighten the cordon to foil any attempt by holed up militants to escape. The intermittent firing was going on during the night. Later, people in the nearby houses were shifted to safer places. However, with the first light this morning, security forces launched an all-out offensive against the holed up militants, they said.
The operation was going on when the reports last came in. Two to three militants are reportedly holed up in the area.
In view of the apprehension of law and order problem, restrictions under Section 144 CrPC have been imposed on the gathering of more than four persons in entire Sub-division Sopore with effect from Thursday evening till further orders.