Militants killed a cop before managing to escape from Sopore forest area on Wednesday. Army men from 27 Rashtriya Rifles along with Special Operation Group party from Jammu and Kashmir Police cordoned off a chunk of forest land in Yembarzalwari Marbal area of North Kashmir’s Sopore town after they received inputs about the presence of a group of militants there.Defence sources told news agency CNS that shortly after the search operation militants resorted to indiscriminate firing resulting the death of an SOG constable Muhammad Shafiq vide belt number 495. The militants according to sources managed to escape unhurt from the spot.A police official said that shortly after the encounter a manhunt was launched to flush out the militants from the forest area.Meanwhile according to a police handout, a wreath lying ceremony was held in District Police Lines Srinagar where floral tributes were paid to the martyr Constable Muhammad Shafi who gave the supreme sacrifice of his life at Marbl Zaloora area of Sopore today.Director General of Police J&K K. Rajendra Kumar led the officers and Jawans in the wreath laying ceremony which was attended among others by Special DG law and order and coordination S.P Vaid, IGP Armed/IRP Shri Sunil Kumar, Divisional Commissioner Shri Baseer Ahmad Khan, Deputy Inspector General of Police, Central Kashmir Range Shri S.P Pani, DC Srinagar Farooq Ahmad, SSP Srinagar Shri Amit Kumar and other officers and family members of the martyr.The martyrs body was later on handed over to his next of kins for last rites.The martyr is survived by wife, three brothers two of them are under studies and old aged parents. (CNS)