Srinagar: Two suspected militants were killed in a gunfight with Indian armed forces on Wednesday morning.
A joint cordon and search operation (CASO) was launched jointly by 22 Rashtriya Rifles, SOG and CRPF are busy in an operation in Pazalpora area of Sopore in Baramulla district in North of Srinagar – the summer capital of J&K.
“Two militants have been killed,” Srinagar based defence spokesperson, Col Rajesh Kalia, said in a WtsApp message to the FreePressKashmir.
He, however, added that the military operation was still in progress. “Two weapons have been recovered (from the gunfight site),” he informed.
The defence spokesperson did not answer when asked whether the slain militants were identified.
However, reports said that they were identified as Gulzar Ahmad of Brathkalan Sopore and Basit Ahmad of Pattan Andergam.
The area was cordoned off late last evening and the operation was suspended for the night.
Contact with the militants was established this morning followed by the gunfight.
The government has suspended phone and internet services around Sopore.
Reports of clashes between the armed forces and civilian protestors came from Seelu area of the district.
Seelu is a few kilometres away from the gunfight site.
The armed forces are using tear smoke shells on protesters who are pelting rocks in retaliation.
Soon after news spread that the armed forces launched CASO in Pazalpora, people in Palhallan held massive anti-India protests last night. A militant, belonging to Palhallan, was said to be one of the militants engaged in gunfight in Pazalpora.
