Jawan, 2 ultras killed in ongoing encounters in JK

Srinagar, Apr 6: A security force jawan and two militants have been killed in two ongoing encounters in the Kashmir valley overnight.

A Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) spokesman told UNI that troops of 112 Battalion, CRPF and the Special Operation Group (SOG) of the Jammu and Kashmir police launched a joint operation late last night after receiving information that some militants were hiding in a house at Ishbar Nishat in th famed Dale Lake area.

He said the area was immediately cordoned off and all exit points sealed.

When the security forces were moving toward the house, located on the top of a hill, militants opened fire and also hurled hand grenades.

Later, people living in nearby houses were taken to safer places and repeated announcements made asking the militants to surrender.

However, the militants continued firing and in the ensuing exchange of fire, one militant was killed.

Senior CRPF and police officials immediately rushed to the area.

A UNI correspondent saw CRPF and SOG personnel climbing the hill even as militants continued to fire from inside the house which was partially damaged.

A police spokesman said another encounter was on in a village in Bijbehara in the Anantnag district of south Kashmir A team of the SOG, headed by Javid Ahmad, launched a joint operation with security forces in a village at Bijbehara last evening.

He said when the area was being sealed, militants hiding in the village opened fire, killing a security jawan.

Later, reinforcements were rushed to area. Intermittent firing between militants and security forces was going on, he said, adding one militant was killed early this morning.

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

UNI