Two policemen were injured after militants hurled a grenade at a security forces party at Main Chowk Sopore in the north Kashmir district on Thursday, 21 March.
Two more encounters have been reported later from Bandipora and Baramulla districts.
In the Sopore encounter, two policemen, including the station house officer (SHO) of Dangiwacha police station, were injured. Security forces cordoned off the area and a search was launched to nab the attackers.
According to the news agency, a civilian sustained a bullet injury in his leg in the Sopore gunfight. He too was shifted to hospital and his condition was stated to be stable.
Authorities have suspended mobile Internet service in Sopore town.
Militant Killed in Encounter in Bandipore, One Civilian ‘Held Hostage’
Police told IANS that one militant was killed in the exchange of fire between security forces and the militants in Mir Mohalla of Hajin area in Bandipora.
“One militant has been killed so far. Another militant is still holed up inside a house where a 12-year-old boy is also believed to be stuck. Another civilian was safely evacuated from the house during the operation.”Police officer told IANS
According to a tweet by the police, the two civilians were being held hostage by the hiding militants. While one was reportedly rescued safely with the assistance of security forces and community members, the other, reportedly a minor, was still trapped.
Police said security forces started a cordon and search operation in Hajin – once considered a zone "liberated" from militant control – following intelligence inputs about the presence of militants there.
The militants who were in hiding allegedly opened fire at the security forces in Mir Mohalla, sparking the gunfight.
Another Gun Battle in Baramulla
Another gunfight started in Kandi area of Baramulla after security forces resumed a search operation on Thursday morning which was suspended due to darkness on Wednesday evening.
“As the search operation was resumed, militants fired at the security forces, triggering an encounter in Kandi,” an officer told IANS.
(With inputs from PTI and IANS)
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