Two missing SPOs among four militants killed in Pulwama gunfight, operation over

Two Special Police Officers (SPOs) who went missing twenty four hours ago were among four militants killed during a gunfight with the security forces in Panjran Lassipora area of south Kashmir’s Pulwama district on Friday morning.

A police official said that a joint team of army, CRPF and SOG men surrounded the Panjra Lassipora village following the inputs about the presence of militants on Thursday evening.

“While the searches were being conducted, the militants hiding in the area fired upon the forces,” said the official, adding that the fire was retaliated, leading to an encounter.

One of the militants was killed in the initial exchange of gunfire. His associates were hiding in a residential house which was blasted later, said official .The operation, however, continued till early Friday morning and ended with the killing of four militants, said the official.

Two of the slain militants were identified as Shabir Ahmad of Tujan, Pulwama and Suliman Ahmad of Uthmulla Shopian who had reportedly signed up for militancy less than 24 hours ago.

Shabir and Suliman were working as Special Police Officers with Jammu and Kashmir Police and had disappeared from District Police Lines on Thursday morning with their service rifles.

The other two slain militants were identified as Irfan Ahmad Bhat of Arihal Pulwama and Ashiq Hussain Ganie of Panjran.