Handwara Encounter On For Second Day, Para Commandos Called

Area congested, says police
Srinagar: Para Commandos have been called for the ongoing encounter which started on Friday at Babagund village of Langate, Handwara in north Kashmir’s Kupwara district continued for the second day on Saturday. Two militants are still active at the site, police said. Para Commandos have been called in to neutralize the militants, according to Valley Media Service. Earlier, five security personnel, a CRPF officer, were killed when a terrorist who was hiding in debris of a house damaged in a joint operation opened fired on them.
One civilian was also killed during a clash with security forces following a stone-pelting incident at the spot.
Earlier, on Thursday night at around 9:00 pm, the contingents of Army’s 22 RR, 92 battalions, Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and SOG conducted a cordon-and-search operation at Khanu-Babagund hamlet in Langate.
Reports said that the forces had also installed lights to prevent the terrorists from escaping in the darkness of the night. As of now, there is no information on which group the militants were affiliated with.
Security forces had launched a cordon and search operation following information about presence of militants there, the officials said. During the searches, the militants opened fire on the security forces, who retaliated, they said. There was lull in firing several times during the day but the terrorists would resume firing as soon as the security forces advanced towards the house where the ultras were hiding, the officials said. Clashes between a group of youngsters and security personnel took place near the encounter site, leaving four persons injured.(VMS)