Militant killed in Shopian gunfight, pistol recovered from his possession says Army &Police

Shopian, Oct 19: An unidentified militant has been killed in an ongoing encounter in Melhora area of South Kashmir’s Shopian district, police said.

The encounter broke out in Melhora village after joint teams of security forces launched a cordon and search operation to track down the militants. When the joint teams of Police, Army’s 55 RR and CRPF zeroed in on a spot where militants were hiding, they came under a heavy volume of fire.

“In the initial exchange of fire, one militant was killed. The second militant changed directions and kept security forces engaged,” a police officer said as that intermittent exchange of fire is going on.

Army on its official twitter handle said: “Shopian operation update: one unidentified militant killed, one pistol recovered. Joint operation on.”

“Since it is dark, lights have been installed and cordon layers tightened to ensure the hiding militant doesn’t flee,” he said. The body of the slain militant has been recovered and his identity is being ascertained—(KNO)