Jawan, 2 militants killed in gun battle

AMID heightening tensions, the authorities ordered closure of all educational institutions in Sopore and surrounding areas.

Two militants, allegedly associated with Lashkare-Tayyaba (LeT), and an Army jawan were killed and a policeman was injured in a fierce gun battle in Dursoo village outside Jammu and Kashmir’s north-western town of Sopore on Friday.

The killing of the militant duo sparked off protests in the area, forcing the authorities to use force against stone-pelting mobs and also snap internet services.

Meanwhile, a Central Reserve Police Force jawan and a Special Police Officer of the J&K police were injured in a grenade explosion in southern Anantnag district.

LeT has owned responsibility for carrying out the attack.

The police identified militants slain in Dursoo fire fight as LeT’s Riyaz Ahmed Dar and Khursheed Ahmed Malik and the soldier as Sawar Vijay Kumar.

SSP Sopore Javaid Iqbal said that the security forces launched a search operation at Dursoo in Dangiwacha area of Sopore late Thursday night after receiving “credible inputs” about the presence of militants in the village.

In the ensuing encounter that followed both the militants were killed, the officer said adding that as per preliminary investigations they were local Kashmiris belonging to the LeT.