Basharat Rasheed
Pulwama: Six militants were killed as their gunfight with government forces at Awantipora in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district ended on Saturday.
Massive clashes have also started in the area even as railway authorities have suspended train service to south Kashmir amid a spontaneous shutdown in Awantipora and adjoining areas.
The gunfight ensued after a joint team of army’s 42RR, CRPF’s 180 battalion and police launched cordon and search operation in Arampora area of Awantipora.
As soon joint team of government forces zeroed in on a suspected house, the militants hiding inside it fired upon them, triggering off an encounter. As per the sources, six militant have been killed and their identification and group affiliation was being ascertained.
The bodies of all the slain militants along with as many weapons and other arms and ammunition were recovered, they said.
Initial reports suggest that the slain belonged to Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind militant outfit headed by Zakir Musa and among slain include outfit’s Deputy Chief Soliha alias Rehaan khan of Arampora, the village where the encounter took place, they added.
Meanwhile, massive clashes erupted in the area while train services to south Kashmir have been suspended.
