Shopian gunfight: 2 army troopers injured, 1 militant likely killed in fresh firing

Srinagar: Two army troopers were injured and one militant likely killed in the ongoing gunfight between government forces and militants in Kanigam Village of South Kashmir’s Shopian district.

The two army men were injured when militants tried to break the cordon by firing on the joint forces on the gunfight site.

However, the attempt was aborted by forces who engaged the militants again.

One among the two militants believed to be trapped was also likely killed in the fresh exchange of fire.

Unconfirmed reports identified the two trapped militants as Asif Ahmad Lone, a resident of Turkawangam Shopian who went missing in the middle of June this year, and Amir Hassan Bhat, a resident of Malbagh Shopian who joined militant ranks last month.

Earlier in the afternoon, a joint team of Police, Army’s 44 RR and CRPF launched a cordon-and-search-operation in Kanigam.

As the joint team of forces approached the suspected spot, the hiding militants fired upon the forces, triggering off a gunfight.

Meanwhile, a police official said that the gunfight has entered its last stage. He said the militants were offered to surrender but they declined.

This is a developing story and may be updated