Srinagar: Hundreds of people are on roads in parts of Anantnag district on Friday to help suspected militants escape safely from a house cordoned off by Indian armed forces.
Eye witnesses and locals said that youth and armed forces are engaged in battle as the exchange of fire between suspected militants and men in uniform continues in Arwani area of the district.
A police official based in Anantnag told the FreePressKashmir that the armed forces launched a cordon and search operation (CASO) around 4 in the morning around Arwani village.
“There were reports of presence of militants in the village,” he said.
A local resident of Arwani said that hundreds of armed personnel were deployed in the area after Sehri (time for pre-dawn meals during holy Ramzan) was over.
Indian army’s Ist RR, 90th battalion of para-military CRPF and cops of Jammu and Kashmir police’s Anantnag and Kulgam districts including those from Special Operations Group (SOG) are engaged in the operation.
“There is exchange of fire going on,” a local from Arwani, who wished to remain anonymous, said.
A police official said that the militants changed their location when the CASO was launched. “They were hiding in a house after forces raided the village, they came out (of the house) and exchange of fire started,” he said on the condition of anonymity.
The militants are believed to be present in a two-storey house which has been cordoned off from all the sides. The house belongs to Muhammad Shafi Malik.
The authorities have suspended internet services in the area.
“Clashes are going on from all sides as people are trying to help the militants escape,” the local said.
“Intense stone pelting is going on while forces are firing tear gas shells,” he added.
Speaking to FreePressKashmir, SP Kulgam, Shridhar Patel, said, “the encounter is going on and there are reports of injuries from forces sides.”
“(Stone) pelting (by civilians) is going on, exchange of fire (between forces and suspected militants) is going on,” he said when asked about the status of encounter.
He, however, refused to share details of injured armed personnel.
Srinagar based defence spokesperson, Colonel Rajesh Kalia, did not respond to calls from this newspaper.
Meanwhile, clashes between protesters and armed forces erupted in Pampore today.
The clashes started after the news about the presence of a local militant trapped in Arwani spread across the town.
However, it was not confirmed whether any militant of Pampore was trapped in the encounter which started early today in Kulgam district.
The youth came out on roads and started pelting stones on police and paramilitary forces triggering shutdown and clashes.
Forces fired tear smoke shells against the stone pelting youth in many parts of the town.
In Vessu area, locals alleged that the men in uniform went berserk in the area.
“It was around 11:30 am that the armed personnel raided the area and resorted to damaging the private property,” he alleged.
There were reports of stone pelting in the area. “The youth had tried to block Vessu chowk on Srinagar-Jammu highway,” he said.
“But forces pushed back the protestors and clashes erupted,” he added. The attempt to block the vital highway was made after reports of encounter started coming from Arwani area of the district.
“Whole area is witnessing shutdown while window panes of the houses have been damaged,” he said.
The authorities have blocked 3g and 4g services across the valley.
