Even as the security forces intensified operations against militants in Kashmir, four militants were killed in two separate encounters since Friday. One of them is believed to be involved in the killing of two sisters in Sopore town last month.Inspector-General, Kashmir zone, S.M. Sahai told The Hindu that a militant identified as Wasim Ahmad Ganie was killed in an encounter with the police and the security forces at Kralteng-Sopore in North Kashmir.
As the forces laid a siege to a clinic where the militants were hiding, the militants opened fire on them, police sources said. As the gunfight intensified the clinic caught fire, but police said no civilian casualties were reported. A militant fled the area. “We have recovered the body of Wasim Ganie, who was involved in killing of the two girls in the town in February,” Mr. Sahai said. One more militant was killed but his body was yet to be recovered.
The shootout rattled the area and people ran from houses to take shelter.
On Friday, police produced Ghulam Hassan Miralias Chota Geelani, a resident of Duroo-Sopore, before the media on Friday after he was arrested from the Soura area here on March 9.
Earlier, police spokesman said two militants, identified as Ishfaq Ahmad Chopan and Khurshid Ahmad Yatoo, residents of Shopian, were killed in an encounter in the town. The bodies of the militants were recovered on Saturday during the search operations, the spokesman said.