Two LeT militants killed in Sopore gunfight
Sopore: Two local militants were killed on Thursday in an encounter with security forces in north Kashmir’s Sopore area, police said.
They said that a joint team of Army’s 22 RR, SOG from Jammu and Kashmir Police and CRPF launched a cordon and search operation in Bunpora Mohalla of Dangarpora sopore on Thursday morning.
After several hours long siege, the forces intensified the searches and fired some warning gunshots towards the suspected spot following which the hiding militants opened fire leading to an encounter.
In the ensuing encounter, two militants were killed and the bodies retrieved from the site, the official said.
He said that the two militants have been identified as Asif Ahmad War of Warpora Sopore and Naseer Ahmad Mir of Brath Kalan Sopore.
“Bodies of both the killed militants were later retrieved from the site of encounter along with incriminating material including arms and ammunition,” the official added.
He said that the duo was affiliated to LeT militant outfit.
Meanwhile, massive clashes were reported in the area after a group of youth coming from other side of encounter site started pelting stones on the deployed forces when they were leaving the encounter site.
Eyewitnesses said that the forces retaliate by lobbing scores of tear smoke shells and fired pellets to disperse the protesting youth.
They said that several youth suffered injuries during the clashes that continued for several hours.
Notably, authorities suspended internet services in Sopore town as a precautionary measure in wake of the operation.
In order to prevent any law and order problem, Additional Deputy Commissioner Sopore Ashiq Hussain Lily in a statement issued ordered closure of Degree college Sopore, both Boys and Girls Higher Secondary, Sopore and Higher secondary schools in Zaingeer belt of Sopore region.
SSP Sopore Javid Iqbal requested the citizens not to venture near the encounter zone since such an area can prove dangerous due to stray explosive materials.
“People are requested to cooperate with police till the area is completely sanitized and cleared of all the explosive materials if any,” he said.
Bilal Ahmad
