Encounter between terrorists, security forces underway in Jammu and Kashmir’s Anantnag

An encounter broke out between terrorists and the security forces at the Verinag area of Anantnag district of Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday morning, a police official said. Security forces launched a cordon and search operation in the area of the south Kashmir district following specific information about the presence of terrorists, the official said.

There was heavy exchange of firing and the search operation turned into a full-fledged encounter. The encounter is still underway.

On Friday, four terrorists were killed during an early morning encounter in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pulwama. Security forces recovered three AK series rifles from the spot. The encounter came a day after the terrorists brutally murdered a Territorial Army jawan, who had come home on Eid holiday. The state police said unidentified gunmen came to the residence of Manzoor Ahmad Beg in Sadoora village in Anantnag district on Thursday evening and shot at him. A critically injured Beg was rushed to the district hospital where he was declared dead on arrival. Beg was posted at neighbouring Shopian district and was attached with 34 Battalion of the Rashtriya Rifles.

Despite Balakot, there has been no slump in the terror activities in the Valley. According to officials, over 100 terrorists were killed in Jammu and Kashmir in first five months of 2019. More than 50 cases were reported where local men took up arms and joined terror outfits. It is this steady recruitment trend that is worrying the officials. Now, terrorists are also targeting civilians. Among the terrorists killed, Shopian accounted for a maximum of 25, including 16 local militants. Pulwama was second with the killings of 15 militants, followed by Awantipora with 14 and Kulgam with 12. 

On Eid, a woman was shot dead and a man was injured after the terrorists targeted civilians in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pulwama. “Terrorists fired upon a man and a woman at Singoo-Narbal in Pulwama district. While the lady succumbed to injuries, the injured man has been rushed to a hospital," a police official was quoted as saying. The victim was identified as one Nigeena Bano. A media report had said that the woman was allegedly targeted for being an informer of the Indian forces. The report said that Nigeena was shot outside her home in cold blood. In the scuffle, one of her family members was also injured.