Three Militants Gunned Down in Sopore-Kupwara Encounter; Woman Killed in Crossfire

Srinagar: A woman and three militants were killed during a midnight gunfight with security forces at Younsu area on Sopore-Kupwara highway on Sunday.

Officials told News18 that forces cordoned off the Younsu area following information about militants hiding inside a house.

Security personnel intensified cordon and search operations while firing several warning shots towards the suspected spot. The militants returned fire, triggering a gunfight, says an officer.

"Five members of a family were trapped inside the house,” he said, adding that the daughter-in-law tried to escape but sustained serious bullet wounds and subsequently died.

The officer added that the woman died in crossfire during the operation.

Earlier, three Pakistani militants were killed by security forces in a gunfight in north Kashmir's Handwara.

"In unisoo Handwara all the three terrorists apparently Pakistanis have been neutralised by Joint team of J&K Police, RR &CRPF. It has been raining whole night & boys were out there in the cold (sic)," Director General of Police (DGP) of Jammu and Kashmir, SP Vaid tweeted.

Security forces moved in on Unsoo village after being tipped-off about the presence of militants in the area. As they neared in on the hideout, they were fired upon triggering the encounter.

The police chief had initially said that the third militant was caught in an injured condition.

Authorities, meanwhile, have snapped internet services in Sopore, Baramulla, Handwara and Kupwara.