The latest encounter broke out between the terrorists and the security forces in Shopian district of Jammu and Kashmir early on Friday morning. The firing is currently underway in the Ratnipora area of the district.
Shopian: It has been a busy 24 hours for security forces in the Kashmir Valley who have carried out four separate encounters in the region since Thursday. It is believed that they have managed to neutralise four terrorists, including a Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) commander, in the gunfights.
The latest encounter broke out between terrorists and security forces in Shopian district of Jammu and Kashmir early on Friday morning. The firing is currently underway in the Ratnipora area of the district.
Also read: Jammu and Kashmir: Security forces hunt down militant, encounter underway in Sopore
According to the Jammu and Kashmir Police, at least two to three terrorists are believed to be trapped in a residential house in the area. A joint search operation has been launched by the 34 Rashtriya Rifles (RR), Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and Special Operations Group (SOG) and the area has been cordoned off.
This is the fourth encounter in the last 24 hours. On Thursday, two separate encounters broke out between militants and security forces in Baramulla and Bandipora district of north Kashmir.
In the Baramulla encounter, two terrorists were killed and three Army personnel, including an officer, were injured. A cordon and search operation was launched at Kalantara area on Wednesday evening, following which suspected militants started firing at the security personnel.
On Thursday morning contact was established with the militants leading to an encounter.
"Two terrorists have been eliminated in Nambalnar operation in Kalantara area of Baramulla," Srinagar-based defence spokesman Colonel Rajesh Kalia said. He said the encounter was in progress.
Also read: Security forces gun down two terrorists in Shopian encounter
Colonel Kalia also said an officer and two soldiers were injured in the operation. The injured personnel have been sent to the Army's 92 Base Hospital at Badamibagh Cantonment.
Police said one militant was killed in the exchange of fire between security forces and the militants in Mir Mohalla of Hajin area - once considered a zone "liberated" from militant control -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," a police officer said.
According to a tweet by the police, the two civilians were being held hostage by the hiding militants.
In the fourth incident, police said security forces started a cordon and search operation in Hajin, following intelligence inputs about the presence of militants there.
The militants who were in hiding opened fire at the security forces in Mir Mohalla, triggering the gunfight.
Two policemen - a Station House Officer (SHO) and his security guard - and a civilian were injured earlier on Thursday when militants hurled a grenade at security forces in Warpora area of Sopore town and then opened fire.
"Both the policemen have been shifted to Srinagar for specialized treatment. The operation against the militants is going on," a police officer said.
A civilian sustained bullet injury in his leg in the Sopore gunfight. He too was shifted to hospital and his condition was stated to be stable now.
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