One CRPF jawan killed, 1 civilian injured in Pulwama encounter; militants escape

A CRPF jawan, Mandeep Kumar was killed and a civilian injured in yet another encounter between security forces and militants in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama district on Saturday.

Security forces launched a cordon and search operation at Chinar Bagh, Mohalla Takiya, in Pulwama late on Friday while a brief exchange of fire began in the wee hours of Saturday.

Rashtriya Rifles, Special Operations Group of state police and the Central Reserve Police Force started the operation following information about the presence of militants in the locale, a police official said.

"As soon as the search party approached the suspect's house, militants hiding inside fired indiscriminately due to which the house owner Bashir Ahmad sustained an injury and is stated to be stable now," he said.

#JammuAndKashmir: Visuals from encounter underway between terrorists & security forces in Pulwama. 1 CRPF personnel injured. (Visuals deferred by unspecified time) pic.twitter.com/Degn00Mhrm

— ANI (@ANI) May 12, 2018

According to police, a CRPF jawan sustained injuries during the initial exchange of fire between the forces and the holed-up terrorists. The jawan, Mandeep Kumar, later succumbed to injuries.

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The militants, taking advantage of the darkness, fled from the spot, he said adding the operation was called off early this morning.

(With inputs from agencies)