 "Kashmir: Woman killed in cross firing in Anantnag; Lashkar-e-Taiba militants trapped")
A civilian woman was killed when security forces on Saturday launched search operations at Dailgam village in Anantnag district of Jammu and Kashmir, following information that two militants were hiding in the area, ANI reported.
J&K: Cordon and search operations started by security forces in Dailgam village in Anantnag district. Two militants believed to be hiding
— ANI (@ANI) July 1, 2017
Some officials said they laid a cordon after receiving specific information and while the cordon was being laid, some militants opened fire. The official statement read, “Forces received specific information about the presence of two or three Lashkar-e-Taiba militants at Brinthi Batpora, Dialgam district Anantnag, south Kashmir. While laying cordon, militants were found holed up in a house. As forces were trying to open the house, the militants fired and army retaliated and in the crossfire, a lady namely Tahira got killed.” Police said that terrorists are using human shields at the encounter site. Efforts are on to rescue the civilians. “Additional forces have been rushed to the spot, including paramilitary troops and a helicopter, to secure the safe release of the civilians trapped in the house,” the police added. However, witnesses disputed the police account and said neighbours went to the house where the militants were holed up to help them as the soldiers arrived in the area. “They (the civilians) told the soldiers from inside the house that either let the militants go or kill us as well,” said a resident of Dialgam, who declined to give his name. As gunshots were heard in the area, hundreds of villagers came out on to the streets shouting anti-India slogans and throwing stones at soldiers in their attempts to break the cordon and help the militants escape. A top Lashkar-e-Taiba militant, involved in the killing of six policemen last month, was among the four ultras trapped in the security forces’ cordon, police said. “Bashir Lakshari and three terrorists are trapped in the security forces cordon in village Brenti in Anantnag. The trapped ultras were involved in the killing of an SHO and five other policemen in Achabal area of south Kashmir on 16 June,” a police spokesman said. With inputs from agencies
