Massive search in south Kashmir after killing of 3 soldiers

Srinagar, July 27 (UNI) Security forces and Special Operation Group (SOG) of Jammu and Kashmir police have launched a massive search operation in about a dozen village of south Kashmir to nab militants responsible for killing three soldiers last night, official sources said here today.

They said security forces cordoned off Reniora and five nearby villages early this morning, looking for militants who managed to escape after a fierce encounter in which two soldiers were killed on the spot and one succumbed to injuries in the hospital later.

They said based on specific information, security forces and SOG launched a joint operation at villages Renipora and Shopian, in south Kashmir yesterday afternoon.

However, when the security forces were sealing the exit points, militants attacked them with automatic weapons and hurled hand grenades.

The troops retaliated and reinforcement was rushed from nearby camps to the village.

The militants later managed to escape from the area under the cover of darkness.

Sources said all the male members of these villages were paraded before the ''cats'' security force informers and house-to-house searches conducted. Some suspected people were reportedly taken into custody.

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