Srinagar: In the wee hours of Monday, four soldiers including an Army Major were reportedly martyred and a civilian also lost his life in an encounter with militants which ensued during a Cordon and Search Operation (CASO) in south Kashmir district of Pulwama, informed official sources.
Meanwhile, mobile internet service, which had resumed on Sunday night in the valley after remaining suspended during the day, has been blocked again in Pulwama where additional security forces have been deployed in main and other towns to prevent demonstrations.
A police spokesman said that the details are yet awaited about the encounter which ensued three days after 44 CRPF personnel were martyred in a fedayeen attack at Awantipora on the Srinagar-Jammu national highway in Pulwama district on Thursday afternoon.
Sources said that after receiving warning about the presence of militants in village Pinglan in Pulwama district, troops of 55 Rashitriya Rifles (RR), Special Operation Group (SOG) of Jammu and Kashmir police and CRPF launched a joint search operation in the wee hours of Monday. However, when the security forces were sealing the particular area in the village, the militants hiding in there opened indiscriminate firing in which four soldiers, including a Major were critically injured. The injured were shifted to 92 Base hospital where they reportedly succumbed to death. Meanwhile, a civilian who was also hit by a bullet near the encounter site has also died. Following the incident, the residents in the nearby houses have been shifted to safer places.
The officials also said that additional security forces were rushed and all exit points were sealed to foil any attempt by militants to escape.