Shopian gunfight ends with the killing of three militants

SRINAGAR — Three militants were killed while as an Army officer, a soldier and a civilian were injured in an encounter at Melhora village of Zainapora area of south Kashmir’s Shopian district, officials said.

The Melhora gunfight started yesterday and all three militant bodies have been recovered while as a woman sustained injury. Pertinently, four militants of AGH were killed in an encounter with the forces in the same village last week.

An official said that three militants have been killed. He said an Army officer, a soldier and a woman also sustained injuries during the gunfight. The injured civilians were rushed to Srinagar hospital for treatment. The injured woman was identified as Shahnaza Bano.

Earlier, officials said that on specific inputs about the presence of militants, a Cordon and Search Operation (CASO) was launched in the area by joint team of forces including 55 RR and Shopian Police.

During the searches, the hiding militants fired upon the forces, which was retaliated, thus triggering an encounter, they said.

Meanwhile, security forces are sanitizing the area and have appealed people not to go closer to the encounter spot till the site is properly sanitized.