One militant killed in Shopian gunfight, another gunfight underway in Sopore

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Lights installed at Sopore, cordon layers tightened, say officials

SRINAGAR: A local militant was been killed in an encounter between government forces and militants in orchards of Ganopora Arshipora area of South Kashmir’s Shopian district on Friday while as another encounter is underway at Warpora area of Sopore in north Kashmir’s Baramulla.

A senior police official told news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), that a joint team of Police, Army’s 44 RR and CRPF launched a Cordon and Search Operation (CASO) on specific information about the presence of militants in the area.

He said that as the joint team of forces approached towards the suspected spot, the hiding militants fired upon them, which was retaliated, triggering an encounter.

During exchange of fire one local militant was killed, he said, while identifying him as Aaqib Ahmad from Trenz, Shopian.

He said that one AK 47 besides other ammunition was recovered from the possession of slain militant. The official said that encounter was over and search operation was on.

Pertinently, 47 militants have been killed in J&K so far this year and most of them belong to Shopian district.  Meanwhile, as a precautionary measure, internet services have been snapped in Shopian district.

Officials said that a second encounter is underway at Warpora area of Sopore in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district, where security forces tightened the cordon and installed lights to ensure militants don’t flee.

An official told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that an encounter broke out between the security forces and militants at the Warpora area after searches were launched by joint forces after specific inputs.

He said that the encounter started after the hiding militants fired upon the security forces party.

The official further said that the exact number of hiding militants is not known so far while the exchange of fire from either side was going on.

Another official said that apart from the suspected location cordon has been expanded with more reinforcement called to the spot.

Areas nearby Warpora have also been cordoned by the joint forces comprising of Army, SOG JKP, and CRPF, he said. 

Meanwhile, Kashmir zone police earlier in a tweet said that Encounter has started at Warpora area of Sopore. Police and security forces are on the job. Further details shall follow.