A gun battle broke out between security forces and suspected militants on Tuesday evening in the restive south Kashmir with additional reinforcement being rushed to the area to prevent the suspects from escaping.
A senior police officer said an encounter raged at Rajpora area of Awantipora in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district on Tuesday after security forces zeroed in on a house after getting specific information about the presence of two to three militants there.
Police said that acting on a specific lead, a siege was laid in Awantipora area of Pulwama.
“Massive searches were launched in the area. During the search operation when forces tried to enter the house where militants were believed to be hiding, the suspects opened fire, triggering an encounter,” the police officer said.
The officer said that apart from police, Army’s counterinsurgency force, Rashtriya Rifles, and CRPF and was part of the operation. He said additional reinforcement have been rushed to the area to prevent militants from escaping.
“Since the darkness has set it, we have installed floodlights in the area to prevent the militants from escaping. Exchange of fire is going on but we are proceeding with caution to prevent any loss of life or damage to property,” the officer said.
A security clampdown has been enforced in the area which has been sealed from all sides. Exchange of fire was underway when this report was filed.