Srinagar, Apr 1: At least a dozen suspected militants were killed and two army men sustained injuries in separate ongoing encounters in Shopian and Anantnag districts of south Kashmir on Sunday.
Director General of Police (DGP) Shesh Pal Vaid in a tweet said that seven bodies of militants have been recovered from the site of a gunfight in Dragad village of Shopian. He said the slain included top commanders.
Two army soldiers were also injured in the operation, who have been shifted to military hospital for treatment, reports said. The injured soldiers were identified as NK Shrikant and Sepoy Hariom.
Another militant, the DGP said, was killed in a gunfight with forces at Dialgam, Anantnag, "after efforts of his family and Jammu and Kashmir Police failed to make him surrender."
"One terrorist killed in Dialgam Anantnag after efforts of his family/ J&K Police failed to surrender, one caught alive," he tweeted.
Reports said another encounter is underway between the militants and security forces in Kachdoora village of Anantnag. Sources said that four militants have been killed in Kachdoora encounter so far while two to three ultras are believed to be still trapped. The identity and group affiliation of the slain militants were not known immediately.
The gunfight had begun late Saturday night after the security forces launched a cordon and search operation in Peth, Dialgam. The family of the militant who surrendered at the encounter site helped the police in motivating him to come out of the house and surrender.
Reports of intense stone pelting clashes were received from Dragad and Kachdoora areas. At least 30 persons are said to have received injuries after police and paramilitary forces used tear smoke shells and fired pellet guns to disperse them.
A top police officer told DH that the security forces launched all the operations at the crack of the dawn in parts of south Kashmir. Nearly two dozen boys have joined militant ranks in southern districts of Shopian, Pulwama, Kulgam and Anantnag this year.
Meanwhile, in the wake of militant killings and ongoing encounters, authorities decided to suspend railway services to and from south Kashmir. Internet services have been blocked in Shopian and Anantnag district.
The militant killings have pushed Kashmir on the edge with separatists calling for a strike on Sunday and Monday. GOC Chinar Corps and DGP are scheduled to address a press conference at Army's Victor Force Headquarters in Awantipora today afternoon.
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