Eight Militants Killed In Less Than 24 Hours In Kashmir Valley

Two militants and a soldier were killed in an encounter in North Kashmir’s Sopore district on October 26, 2018. Reports said the gunfight erupted after personnel from the Army’s 22-Rashtriya Rifles, police and paramilitary Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) launched a cordon-and-search operation in Pazalpora Sopore, 38 km from here, following ‘credible input’ about the presence of the militants in the area.

"Two terrorists have been killed in the Sopore operation," Srinagar-based Defence Spokesman Col Rajesh Kalia said. He said the identity and group affiliation of the slain ultras is being ascertained. The defence spokesman said a soldier also lost his life in the gun battle. Reports suggest Police and Security forces today launched a cordon & search operation at Pazalpora area of Dangiwacha in Sopore based on credible input about the presence of terrorists in the area.

As the search operation was going on, the hiding terrorists fired upon the search party, which was retaliated leading to an encounter. In the ensuing encounter, two terrorists were neutralized.

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The identity of the killed terrorists is being ascertained. Incriminating materials including arms & ammunition were recovered from the site of encounter. Police have registered a case in this regard and investigation has been initiated in the instant matter. Jammu Kashmir Police made an appeal to citizens asking them not to venture inside the encounter zone since such an area can prove dangerous due to stray explosive materials.

“People are requested to cooperate with police till the area is completely sanitized and cleared of all the explosives materials if any, “said PRO JKP. It is pertinent to mention that in less than 24 hours 8 militants were neutralized by the security forces in North Kashmir and South Kashmir.

On 25th October, two militants were killed by the security forces in Kreeri area of North Kashmir’s Baramulla district and 4 militants were killed by the security forces in Arwani Anantnag district of South Kashmir. Meanwhile, Army has also suffered causality of its 3 boys in North and south Kashmir for the last 24 hours. Meanwhile, Militants today afternoon attacked an army camp in south Kashmir's Shopian district, leaving a soldier injured.

As per the reports reaching here militants opened fire on the army camp of 34 RR stationed in Mantribugh village of Shopian . However, militants managed their escaped but an army soldier sustained minor injuries in the attack. A search operation has been launched to nab the attackers. There has been a spout in encounters between security forces and militants in the last few weeks.

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On 11th Oct, two local militants, including a PhD scholar, were killed in a similar encounter with security forces in Nowgam area on the outskirts of Srinagar city. Around 170 militants have been killed in Kashmir this year while 217 ultras were killed in 2017 which was highest in the last eight years. The security forces are going after militants as part of "operation all out" and on the basis of a “hit list” of ultras.

The local support and sympathy for militants have increased since the killing of Hizbul commander Burhan Wani in July 2016, which has become a concern to the state