Maluroo encounter ends with capture of third JeM militant

MALUROO - The over eight-hour encounter between three Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) militants and security forces in the Maluroo area on the outskirts of Srinagar has ended with the capture and arrest of the third militant, who was attempting to flee.

Earlier, two militants were killed during the encounter with police and army personnel.

A television report said that the joint security and combing operation was launched on the basis of a tip-off received on Thursday morning.

Police and troops of the 2 Rashtriya Rifles cordoned off the Maluroo locality, 15 kms from Srinagar, in the wee hours following a tip off about the presence of at least three militants in one of the houses in the area.

The ultras opened fire on the security forces when they were zeroing in on the target house, belonging to a property dealer Abdul Rashid Bhat. The troops retaliated following which a gun battle ensued.

The militants also hurled hand grenades, one of which injured a cameraperson of the Asian News International multi-media news agency.

As the house was located in a populated area, the security forces had stopped the hostilities in between and sent a group of locals to persuade the militants to surrender. However, the ultras refused to accept the offer and the gun battle resumed.

Civilians were evacuated from the locality before the encounter was launched.

A defence spokesman confirmed the use of choppers in the encounter. (ANI)