Six top commanders of Lashkar and Hizb militants, TA soldier were killed in an encounter in Kapran area of South Kashmir’s Shopian District on Sunday early morning, while as a youth was killed during clashes at encounter site. Two more youths sustained serious injuries and are critical.A joint team of army's 44 RR, SOG of JK Police and CRPF launched a Cordon and Search Operation (CASO) in the area upon receiving a specific input about the presence of Militants in the Batgund-Kapran village.As soon as the forces approached the suspected spot and trapped in a residential house, the hiding militants opened fire, triggering a gunfight.“Six militants and an army man killed during fierce gunfight, arms & ammunition, Operation in over,” Srinagar based defence spokesman Rajesh Kalia told Valley Media Service.Sources told Valley Media Service that the slain militants identified as LeT distt commander Mushtaq Ahmad Mir, Hizb Distt Commander Abbas Ali, Hizb Dy chief Shopian Waseem Wagay@Saifullah, Omar Majeed Ganie, Khalid Farooq@ Talha and one probably Pakistani militant.
This gunfight is fourth encounter in south Kashmir from last Sunday. Since then 12 militants including top commanders of Hizbul Mujahideen and Lashkar-e-Toiba were killed in the last seven days. Of them six each were killed in Anantnag and Shopian, respectively.Reportedly restrictions imposed in Shopian and its adjoining areas due to law and order. Mobile internet service also snapped in district.Meanwhile, intense clashes erupted in Kapran area of south Kashmir's Shopian district on Sunday following the killing of militants in a gunfight.Local sources said that youth took to streets in Batagund near the site of an ongoing gunfight to disrupt the operation. The forces, they said, responded by firing tear gas and pellets, triggering further clashes.Reportedly three civilians were critically injured in clashes identified as Faizan Gulzar of Shamsipora Dangarpora, Numan Ahmad resident of Yaripora Kulgam and Sajad Ahmad shifted to Srinagar for treatment. While as Numan shifted to nearby district hospital where he succumbed to his injuries. (VMS)