Militants holed up in house after failed weapon-snatching bid: Police  

Srinagar: Three militants were believed to be holed up in a house in Pulwama district of Jammu and Kashmir today, after a failed bid to snatch the weapon of the personal security officer (PSO) of a BJP leader, the police said.

The militants tried to snatch the service rifle of constable Bilal Ahmad, who is the PSO of BJP leader Anwar Khan, at Balhama in Pulwama district, a police official said.

He added that the police personnel accompanying Khan foiled the attempt, during which Ahmad received a bullet injury.

State Director General of Police (DGP) S P Vaid confirmed the incident, saying an operation was going on to flush out the militants.

“Three militants are trapped in an undisclosed location and engaged in an exchange of fire after an unsuccessful attempt of weapon-snatching from the PSO of a protected person,” he said.

Ahmad was rushed to a hospital, where his condition was stated to be stable, a police official said.

Another police personnel was reportedly injured in the exchange of fire with the militants, but officials did not confirm it.

Meanwhile, clashes erupted in Pulwama and Tral areas after youth took to streets after the news about the encounter in Balhama area reached these areas.

Clashes erupted in Pulwama district of south Kashmir while shopkeepers lowered their shutters after news spread that two to three local militants were surrounded by the government forces in Khunmoh area on the outskirts of Srinagar.

Witnesses said that youth took to streets in Murran Chowk of Pulwama town and Main Bus Stand in Tral after reports suggested that two militants – residents of Tral and Awantipora areas – were surrounded by the forces in Balhama.

The protesters, they said, pelted the forces with stones. The latter responded by firing tear gas. The protests continued till late evening. (with PTI inputs)

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