Two fierce encounters in Kashmir, Ganderbal clash ends, 8 killed

Srinagar, Sep 29 (UNI) Two fierce encounters are going on at two different places in the Kashmir valley while the Ganderbal encounter ended last evening in which seven militants and a soldier were killed.

A police spokesman said troops of 28 Rashtriya Rifles (RR) and police launched a joint search operation at Gojul in the frontier district of Kupwara today following a tip-off about the presence of militants there.

As the security forces were sealing the area, militants opened fire triggering an encounter.

The operation was still going on when the reports last came in, he said.

He said another encounter ensued during similar search operation conducted by 42 RR and police at village Shahabad, Awantipora, in Pulwama district today. Details are awaited, he said.

A defence ministry spokesman said the four-day encounter on Ganderbal-Bandipora heights concluded last evening after all the seven militants were killed.

One soldier also lost his life, he said.

UNI BAS AKJ AS1636