Due to darkness, stone pelting, Militants give slip to troops

Two army men were injured in a brief gunfight with government forces in Pathan village of south Kashmir’s Pulwama district on Saturday evening.

Reports reaching GNS said that a joint team of army’s 55RR, SOG Pulwama and 183/182 BN CRPF cordoned off the Pathan village Saturday evening.

“As soon as the joint team of forces approached the suspected spot, the hiding militants fired upon the forces, triggering off an encounter,” they said adding that in the initial exchange of fire, two army men received injuries and were hospitalized.

Sources, however, said the militants believed to be two to three in number took advantage of darkness amid stone pelting clashes and managed to escape from the spot.

Superintendent of Police (SP) Chandan Kholi confirmed the brief exchange of gunfire between militants and forces.

“Two army soldiers were injured in the operation and the search to trace out the hiding militants is underway,” SP said.