Militants flee after brief gunfight in Khanabal

SRINAGAR — Militants managed to escape after a very brief gunfight near Khanabal area in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district on Monday.

A police officer said that there was a brief encounter between militants and a joint team of Police and Army at around 1100 hours.

He said there was a lull, following which massive searches were launched. However, he said, there no second contact established with militants nor anyone was arrested, suggesting that the militants fled from the spot.

Earlier, the Northern Command of the Indian Army tweeted that a “speculative search operation” was launched in the area, some five kilometres from Khanabal town followed by a round of fire by the troops at 1100 hours. The Army said suspected militants fired back at 1150 hours.