Srinagar: The encounter between militants and government forces continued after 24 hours even as heavy blasts and intermittent firing heard in Karannagar, a commercial-cum-residential area in the heart of this summer capital of the state. A CRPF trooper was killed and a policeman injured in the gunfight so far.
The authorities have also sealed off all roads around leading to the site to prevent youth from approaching to area and pelt stone at forces as was seen on Monday.
Inspector General of CRPF (Operations) said that paramilitary forces and police were moving “cautiously”.
“We are moving cautiously to avoid collateral damage, both to citizens as well as property,” the officer told reporters near the encounter site.
Asked how long the operation would last, the officer said: “These are operation details which cannot be divulged now. We will share details after encounter is over.”
The militants believed to be two in number took sheltered in an under-construction building after their attempt to enter a CRPF camp was “foiled”.
A CRPF officer said that the militants at around 4:30 a.m were spotted by a sentry at the 23 battalion headquarters of CRPF and after alarm, the militants ran away from the camp.
Subsequently, the officer said, house-to-house searches were launched and at around 10 a.m. on Monday, militants, who were hiding in a concrete building opened, fire in which one of CRPF personnel sustained injuries. The injured constable identified as Mujahid Khan of Bihar later succumbed to his injuries while a policeman sustained injuries during the further course of the attack.
