1 militant killed in Shopian encounter, mobile internet suspended

Srinagar:A militant was killed in an encounter which ensued after security forces launched a Cordon and Search Operation (CASO) in south Kashmir district of Shopian Thursday afternoon.

With this, 18 militants have been killed in different operations in Shopain during the last 10 days.A police official said Special Operation Group (SOG) of Jammu and Kashmir police, CRPF and Army launched a CASO at Munand in Shopian following a tip off about the presence of militants. 

However, he said when the security forces were moving towards a particular area in the village after sealing all exit points, militants hiding there, opened indiscriminate firing with automatic weapons. ''Security forces retaliated ensuing in an encounter,'' he said, adding an unidentified militant was killed in the exchange of fire. ''The operation was still going on when the reports last came in,'' he added.

Meanwhile, mobile internet has been suspended in the area, where additional security forces and police have been deployed to prevent any demonstration.This was the second encounter in south Kashmir on Thursday. A militant was killed by security forces in earlier encounter in Pulwama, where operation was going on.(UNI)