Srinagar, Feb 19: A Special Police Officer (SPO) was killed and a policeman injured in an encounter that raged between security forces and militants in Beerwah area of Central Kashmir’s Budgam district.

A senior police official said  that acting on a tip off, joint teams of army and police laid a siege in a village at Beerwah in Budgam and when the suspected spot was zeroed in, the hiding militants opened fire.

“In the initial firing, SPO Altaf Ahmed sustained bullet wounds, who later succumbed,” it said.

A police man, who was identified as Manoor Ahmed also received injuries who is being treated at the hospital,” he said.

Fierce exchange of firing was on when this report was being filed.

Inspector Genereal of Police, Vijay Kumar said said that a cordon was laid in a village in Beerwah area of Budgam in the mid-night and in the initial exchange of firing, SPO Altaf Ahmed and constable Manzoor Ahmed sustained injuries. “Altaf succumbed to injuries later. There were reports of presence of a militant Yusuf Kandroo and another foreign militan”t.

It seems that two militants sustained injuries in the first exchange given the blood trial that was seen up to two Kms from the site of encounter. We have cordoned the village where blood trail ended and searches are on,” he said. kno