Basharat Rasheed
Pulwama: One militant has been killed in an ongoing gunfight with joint team of government forces at Ratnipora area of South Kashmir’s Pulwama district, official on Tuesday. “The gunfight is in its last leg,” a police officer said, confirming the killing of a militant. There is possibility of one more militant hiding in the area, the officer added.
Earlier two army soldiers were killed and another was injured in the gunfight. The gunfight ensued around midnight after a joint team of government forces retaliated the fire after being fired upon by the militants while they were strengthening a cordon around at Ratnipora area midnight.
During the gunfight, two soldiers Havaldar Baljeet of 50RR and Naik Saneed of 10 Para of army were killed while injured soldier has been identified as Chanderpal of 50RR and his condition is stated to be stable at army’s 92 Base Hospital where he was removed for treatment, officials said. The gunfight is still on in the area, the officer added.
Meanwhile clashes erupted near the encounter site as scores of youth took to streets and pelted stones on the government forces. The government forces retaliated by lobbing tear smoke shells and when this report was field, the clashes were going on in the area.
The authorities have also snapped mobile internet in Pulwama. The train services to and fro from Banihal to Srinagar has been also suspended in view of the ongoing gunfight, officials added.