Budgam Gunfight: Firing stops, militant hideout blasted

Srinagar: The firing between militants and government forces at Hapatnar in Charar-e-Shareef area of central Kashmir’s Budgam district has stopped but there are no reports about any militant casualty so far, officials were reported to have told news gathering agency GNS.

They said that the government forces have also blasted the hideout of the militants in the mountainous area which was covered under plenty of snow.

“So far there are no reports about any militant casualty,” a senior police officer said. “The joint team of government forces is still carrying out searches in the area,” the officer added.

The officer said that earlier, a joint team of Army’s 53 RR, SOG and CRPF launched a cordon-and-search operation following “credible inputs” about the presence of two to three militants hiding in the hideout. (GNS)