Mudasir Maqbool
Shopian: One of the two militants killed at Ratnipora village of Shopian had joined militant ranks only ten days back, officials said.
They identified the militants as Showkat Ahmad, a former SPO from Harmain village and Suhail Ahmad Shah from Arhama Shopian. Suhail had gone missing on March 12 and joined militant ranks. Police sources said that bodies of both militants were handed over to their families.
During the fierce gunfight, six houses and a cowshed were damaged at encounter site in Shopian village.
Police sources said this group was believed to be responsible for killing of a lady policewoman Khushboo Jan earlier this week in Shopian.
Massive clashes also took place near encounter site between youth and government forces and the forces retaliated with tear smoke shells and pellets to disperse them.
Several youth were injured these clashes with pellets. A policeman Tariq Ahmad was hit with stone in the head and shifted to 92 Base Army hospital Srinagar for Advanced treatment.
