Published: January 30, 2010
Fierce Gunfight in Kashmir
By Fayaz Wani
Srinagar, Jan 30: A fierce gunfight is going on between militants and Indian soldiers at Sopore, some 55 kms North of Srinagar, summer capital of Indian administered Kashmir.
A senior police officer said that acting on a specific information, police, paramilitary and army men laid siege around the New Colony area in Sopore in North Kashmir on Saturday afternoon.
"While the search operation was going on, the militants fired from a house towards the search party. The fire was returned by the soldiers, triggering an encounter," he said.
The officer said that heavy exchange of fire was going on. "We have information that two to three militants are holed-up in the house," he said.
Meanwhile, additional soldiers were rushed to the encounter site to tighten the siege and prevent militants from escaping from the area.
There have been several instances in the past when the militants have managed to escape from the soldiers' cordon.
Fayaz Wani reports on life in Srinagar, Kashmir.