Srinagar, May 5: The driver of a taxi being used by soldiers was killed during a massive operation involving 4,000 troops on Thursday by the security forces to clear south Kashmir of terrorists.
Dozens were injured in the clashes at Turka Wangam and Sugan villages and were shifted to Srinagar hospital, which received two youngsters with pellet injuries in their eyes.
Terrorists also attacked a patrol party of 62 Rashtriya Rifles at Imamsahib village. Sources said three soldiers were injured in firing by terrorists. A senior intelligence officer said the recent video of 30 militants roaming in the orchards, which went viral on social network sites, was a the trigger for the clean-up operation.
Security forces also laid a cordon in Khudwani of Kulgam district after a tip-off about the presence of LeT terrorists, but they escaped with public support, a cop said. The operation in Shopian was perhaps the biggest in over a decade in the Valley, an intelligence officer said.
The troops asked all villagers to assemble in a common area so their homes could be searched.
The cordon and search operation followed intelligence inputs about the presence of terrorists, in the area, an official said. "However, no contact had been established with the militants," he added.
Meanwhile, J&K police announced a cash reward of Rs 10 lakh on the head of Umer Majid, a suspected Hizb militant responsible for killing seven people including five cops at Kulgam earlier this week.
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