Militants on Saturday managed to escape from cordon laid by government forces in Frisal area of southern Kashmir’s Kulgam district following brief exchange of fire. A police official said that at around 4:30 p.m. army’s 1-RR launched a search operation in Tangibal-Kujar village in Frisal following inputs about the presence of militants in the area.
“The search party came under fire from the militants which was retaliated,” he said.
However, after a brief exchange of fire, there was a sudden lull.
“The army rushed in reinforcement even as police and CRPF also reached the spot and sealed the area,” the official said.
He said that no fresh contact was established even as searches were carried till late in the evening.
“The militants probably managed to escape, the operation has been called off,” a source said.
A senior police official from Kulgam confirmed to Greater Kashmir about the initial exchange of fire between militants and forces.
“There was no casualty from either side,” he said.
Reports said that when the operation was on, people came out and pelted stones on the government forces in a bid to help the militants escape.
The forces fired warning shots, used metallic pellets and lobbed tear gas shells to disperse the people who tried to disrupt the operation.
However, there were no reports of any major injuries.
Clashes as forces lay siege in Drabgam, Pulwama:
Clashes erupted in Drabgam village of Pulwama district on Saturday after forces launched a cordon-and-search-operation (CASO).
A witness said that youth took to streets and clashed with forces.
“A group of youths resorted to stone pelting to disrupt the CASO. Forces fired teargas shells to disperse the protesting youth,” said an eyewitness.
Police, army and Central Reserve Police Force have jointly launched the operation after “specific inputs about the presence of militants.”
The operation was on when reports last came in.
CASO in Tral:
Government forces on Saturday launched a cordon-and-search-operation in Aripal locality of Tral in south Kashmir.
A source said that CASO was launched in TantrayMohalla of the village following inputs about the presence of militants in the area.
Door-to-door searches were going on when last reports came in.
(With Irfan Amin Malik in Pulwama)