Pregnant woman rescued from Sopore amid gunfight

Srinagar: Security forces in Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday rescued a pregnant woman from the Sopore gunfight site while keeping the holed up militants pinned down through sustained retaliatory gunfiring, police said.

The police personnel undertook the rescue operation in Amanpora the moment they came to know about her presence in the gun battle site. Both the pregnant woman and her attendant lady were shifted to a hospital, police sources said.

Reports from the area said the house which the militants were using as a fortified bunker has now been blasted by the security forces. Heavy cloud of smoke was seen billowing from the blasted house.

Security forces including the SOG of local police, Rashtriya Rifles and CRPF had started a cordon and search operation late Tuesday evening after receiving information about a group of militants hiding the Arampora area of Sopore town.

As the security forces closed on the hiding militants on Wednesday morning, the militants fired indiscriminately at the surrounding security forces triggering an encounter.

Firing exchanges have stopped, but the security forces are moving in cautiously to trace the hiding militants or their dead bodies.

IANS