Srinagar, Aug 30: Three militants and an Assistant Sub Inspector of special operation group of police were killed in overnight gunfight at Panthachowk in outskirts of Srinagar.
A Police officer said that three militants were killed in the overnight encounter and bodies of all three of them were recovered along with arms and ammunition. However, he said identity of the slain militants was being ascertained. While a militant and ASI Babu Ram of Poonch were killed in the initial phase of the gunfight, the operation was halted due to darkness and resumed at first light, he said. Two more militants holed up in the area were killed this morning, he said.
Over 150 militants have been killed so far this year, surpassing number of militants killed last year.
The encounter had ensued after THREE bike-borne militants attacked a joint team of police and CRPF near Panthachowk in which no damage was done. Soon after the attack, the fleeing militants were engaged in a gunfight by in the nearby area. Meanwhile, a wreath-laying ceremony of ASI Babu Ram was held here.