Hajin: Gunfight ensues in north Kashmir, third in a day; clashes erupt

Srinagar: Gunfight erupted between government forces and militants in Mir Mohalla area of Hajin in north Kashmir’s Bandipora district Thursday afternoon.

The government forces has laid a cordon in the villages following inputs about presence of militants in the village and started door-to-door search operations..

Following the exchange of fire, local youths engaged government forces in stone pelting clashes who retaliated by firing pellet shots and tear smoke shells. More details are awaited.

Two separate gunfights erupted in north Kashmir’s Sopore and Kandi areas earlier today.

In Kandi, gunfight broke out between militant and government forces after army 29 RR, Jammu and Kashmir Police’s SOG and CRPF launched a joint cordon and search operation in the village following an inputs about the presence of militants in the area last night.

After night long operations, while the searches were being intensified, militants opened fire on forces triggering gunfight. On Wednesday it was reported that a brief shootout had ensued between the two sides following which the militants escaped to nearby area.

Today, a fresh contact was established with militants and the gunfight started again, a police source said.

In Sopore, a gunfight erupted between government forces and militants in Warpora village Thursday morning.

Reports said that acting on “specific inputs” about presence of militants in the village, a joint team of Army’s 22 RR, SOG of Jammu and Kashmir Police,177 and 179 battalions of CRPF cordoned Warpora village in the wee hours on Thursday.

As the cordon was tightened and the searches were intensified, the militants hiding in the area opened fire, leading to a gunfight.

Authorities immediately suspended the Mobile internet services in Police district Sopore. The gunfight was going on when this report was being filed. (KR)