Conflict
Eight militants killed in two separate gunfights in Shopian and Pampore
Eight militants were killed in two separate gunfights in Jammu and Kashmir in the alst 24 hours.
Five militants were killed in a gunfight that raged in Shopian, while three others were killed in Pampore.
Armed forces had launched a cordon and search operation at Meej in Pampore area of Pulwama in South Kashmir on Thursday morning after receiving specific information about the presence of militants there, a police official said.
He said the search operation turned into a gunfight after militants fired upon a search party of the forces.
One militant was killed in the gunfight on Thursday, but two others entered a nearby mosque to take refuge inside it, the official said.
He said the cordon around the mosque was maintained throughout the night.
On Friday morning, the forces used tear smoke shells to force the militants out of the mosque, the officials said, adding, “the two were then killed by the forces while maintaining the sanctity of the religious place”.
Inspector-General of Police, Kashmir, Vijay Kumar, said no firing or IED was used to force the militants out if the mosque.
“Patience and professionalism worked. No use of firing and IED. Used tear smoke shells only. Maintained sanctity of the mosque. Both terrorists hiding inside mosque neutralised,” the IGP said.
Meanwhile, another operation at Munand-Bandpava area of Shopian, which also began on Thursday, continued on Friday, the official said. Mobile Internet has been also suspended in Shopian district as a “precautionary measure”.
22 militants, including top commanders, have been killed only in the Shopian district this month so far.
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