BSF convoy attack: Militant killed in Kulgam encounter; IGP says major tragedy averted

Srinagar : A militant was killed in an encounter on Friday morning which ensued after ultras attacked a Border Security Force (BSF) convoy on Srinagar-Jammu national highway in south Kashmir’s Kulgam district.

Declaring that the operation was over, Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kashmir range, Vijay Kumar said that a major tragedy was averted before the Independence Day.

Mr Kumar said that the national highway will reopen for traffic shortly.

Furnishing details, the IGP Kashmir said militants attacked a BSF convoy on Srinagar-Jammu national highway on Thursday afternoon at Malpora, Mirbazar, in Kulgam district.

Security forces retaliated but the militants escaped and entered a nearby building. Later, additional security forces were rushed and the building was cordoned off.

Mr Kumar informed that the operation has been called off after the area was sanitized.

He said two security forces and as many civilians were injured in the encounter. “As many as 22 civilians, including shopkeepers, women and non local labourers were rescued from the encounter site safely,” he added.

Earlier, the IGP had said that two Lashker-e-Toiba (LeT) militants were holed up in the building.

UNI