A gunfight broke out between forces and militants in Saimoh village of Tral in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district on Saturday morning.

Sources said that two to three militants, including top commander Sabzar Ahmad Bhat alias Soab Don, are believed to be trapped inside the cordon.

Reports and witnesses said that the militants opened fire on the patrolling party late Friday night, triggering a brief encounter that lasted for less than a minute after the former fled from the spot.

An official said that a cordon was laid around the village which continued throughout the night.

Today morning, the gunfight began again, which was going on when last reports came.

Locals alleged that forces also set ablaze a residential house of Abdul Rashid Mir during the night.

Meanwhile, clashes erupted in the nearby village of Rathsuna after locals tried to break the cordon to reach the encounter site. 

Sources said that dozen civilian have been injured in the clashes.

Meanwhile,  the army has called in a reinforcement of para commandos and Special Operation Group to assist them in conducting the operation against the militants. 

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