At least three militants managed to escape from Sungo Narbal area of South Kashmir’s Pulwama district on Thursday while scores of youth attacked reinforcement party of Army at two different places with stones, delaying their arrival on the scene of encounter.Police sources told CNS, Army men from 50 Rashtriya Rifles, Special Operation Group and Para-military Central Reserve Police Force personnel rushed to Sungo Narbal hamlet after they received information about the presence three dreaded Lashkar-e-Toiba militants in the area. Sources added that as soon as the government forces tried to enter into the village, militants suddenly resorted to indiscriminate firing on armoured vehicles creating panic in the area.Government Forces retaliated and sought help from the district headquarters.
The exchange of fire between militants and government forces continued for 10 minutes. Sources said that shortly after militants stopped firing, the government forces cordoned off a vast stretch of hamlet and waited for the reinforcement.
Eyewitnesses said that as the Army and police reinforcement party reached near Hakripora, scores of youth blocked their way and attacked their vehicles with stones. The reinforcement party was also attacked near Newa Pulwama. The intense stone-pelting on the armoured vehicles prompted government forces to burst tear-smoke shelling. However, the agitated locals did not relent as a result Forces resorted to aerial firing.
Eyewitnesses said that due to intense stone-pelting the reinforcement party was unable to reach Sungo Narbal area in time while militants taking advantage of it managed to flee from the area.A police official on condition of anonymity confirmed to CNS that locals helped militants to escape from the spot, a trend that he termed as ‘dangerous’. Reports said that during cordon and search operation government forces recovered two cell phones, a blanket and some eatables of the escaping militants.Eyewitnesses said that after the culmination of search operation, the Army adopted an alternate route to each at their destination as the locals in Pulwama blocked their passage on Degree College road in Pulwama.Pertinently, a fortnight ago, the locals had helped militants to escape from the Lelhar village when they attacked search parties with stones. (CNS)