Two terrorists were killed in a prolonged standoff with security forces in Balhama village in the outskirts of Srinagar on Friday, a day after an abortive attempt on a ruling BJP worker’s security guards exposed the terrorists to take shelter in a local house where they got trapped.
The encounter impacted normal life in south Kashmir as the authorities imposed restrictions, closed educational institutions and partially blocked internet. People in large numbers went to slain terrorist’s villages before their bodies arrived. A group of youngsters pelted stones on security forces when the encounter was going on.
The standoff began on Thursday evening when armed terrorists opened fire on the security guards of a BJP worker Anwar Khan at Balhama village, around 20 kilometers from Srinagar. The guards retaliated fire forcing the attackers to flee from the spot. They were chased until they forced their entry into a house belonging to a poet-writer Madhosh Balhami.
Even as Balhami’s family fled from the scene, the encounter triggered off soon after the house was besieged. Heavy deployments of Rashtriya Rifles, police and paramilitary CRPF were summoned to block all entry and exit points. late in the night, exchange of fire stopped but the security forces illuminated the area to prevent the holed up terrorists’ bid to escape.
On Friday morning, the house was pounded with mortar shells and razed to smithereens. later, bodies of two slain militants were found in the debris.
Police said the two slain militants have been identified as Rasiq Nabi Bhat of Tral and Shabir Dar of Awantipora.
Meanwhile, thousands of people participated in the funeral prayers of slain militant Shabir Ahmed at Aghanzpora village in Awantipora area.
Complete shutdown was observed in Tral, Awantipora, Khrew and Pampore areas.