NEWSLINKS US EDITION SOUTH ASIA COLUMNISTS DIARY SPECIALS INTERVIEWS CAPITAL BUZZ REDIFF POLL DEAR REDIFF THE STATES ELECTIONS ARCHIVES US ARCHIVES SEARCH REDIFF
Security forces managed to rein in a group of militants after a fierce gun battle in northern Baramulla, which has been described by senior security force officers as one of the longest so far.
Militants of the Lashkar-e-Tayiba who had taken shelter in Syed Karim locality, a residential area in downtown Baramulla, were challenged by security forces.
"The encounter started on Thursday afternoon and continued for nearly 40 hours," a police officer said.
"The militants hurled grenades and fired from automatic weapons. The exchange continued for nearly 40 hours," he said.
"We had to operate carefully to ensure least civilian causalities. It was the most difficult operation in the town," he said.
Five houses were blasted by the security forces while nine were partially damaged during the encounter, police said.
"So far, we have recovered three charred bodies of the militants. We are still searching the debris," he said.
"We have recovered five AK-47 rifles, four grenade launchers, ammunition and two wireless sets," he added.
Three army men and a civilian were wounded in the incident.
The security forces have not disbanded the three-day-old cordon around the locality, he said.
Security had been stepped up and troops were seen patrolling the area.
The tension led shops and business establishments to remain closed and there was very little traffic on the roads.
Five persons from the locality have been arrested, the police officer said.
Meanwhile, militants gunned down nine persons in various parts of the state since Friday night, police said on Saturday.
Back to top
Tell us what you think of this report
