2 militants, trooper killed in Sopore gunfight

Sopore: Two militants and a trooper were killed and a house completely damaged in a gunfight in Hygam area of Sopore on Tuesday.Giving details SP Sopore Altaf Khan said the encounter broke out when police and 52 RR men launched the joint operation in Hygam, Sopore after receiving inputs about the presence of militants in the area. “The area was cordoned off in afternoon when the militants were playing cricket. Finding themselves trapped, the militants fired on the search party and attempted to breach the cordon and escape from the area,” he said.He said the militants barged into the house of ARTO Sopore Abdul Ahad Yatoo and engaged the troopers in the gunfight. “One of the militant was killed on the gate while the other managed to enter into the house,” Khan said.The police officer said operation to flush out the militant from the house was launched after the family members trapped in the house were rescued. “The holed-up militant was asked to surrender. He, however, turned down the offer and fired indiscriminately from automatic weapon towards the troopers. The fire was returned and in the ensuing gunfight, the militant and a trooper identified as Sanjay Kumar were killed,” he said.The house, where from militant was firing on the troops, was completed damaged in the gunfight. Window and glasspanes of some adjoining houses were also damaged.Khan said body of one of the militant has been retrieved while the operation to clear the debris was suspended due to darkness. “The clearance operation will be resumed Wednesday morning,” he added.Meanwhile, suspected militants fired at a CRPF camp at Letter, in South Kashmir’s Pulwama district in the wee hours today.“The militants fired from assault rifles at the camp manned by police and CRPF personnel at around 0230 hrs. The CRPF men returned the fire and the exchange of fire continued for some time. However, no loss of life or injuries were reported,” police sources said.