The J&K state is under Governor rule, as the BJP pulled out of the alliance with PDP on June 19, following the resignation of Mehbooba Mufti, as chief minister of the state

SRINAGAR: One policeman and a civilian have been killed and two army men injured in an ongoing encounter in Srigufwara village of Anantnag district in southern Kashmir on Friday morning.

The police officials claim that four militants including one from Srinagar have been trapped at the encounter spot and firing is going on since 6:30 am. The locals have come out to protest from nearby villages attempting to help militants escape from the spot. 

“One SPO was killed and two army men were injured immediately after the contact with the militants was established. A couple was also injured and one of them has succumbed. But we cannot confirm how many militants were killed as of now as firing is going on,” a senior police official told ET. Preliminary reports from the spot suggest that two militants have been killed till now.

The Army, CRPF and police launched a joint crackdown in Srigufwara village early Friday morning, following a tip off regarding presence of militants.

“We were told that four militants are present in the house,” another senior official told ET. The two civilians injured at the encounter spot.

This is the second encounter after Government of India on June 17, decided to call off suspension of operations in Jammu and Kashmir, announced for the month of Ramazan. Earlier this week, three Jaish-e-Muhammad militants were killed in an encounter in Tral area of southern Kashmir.

The J&K state is under Governor rule, as the BJP pulled out of the alliance with PDP on June 19, following the resignation of Mehbooba Mufti, as chief minister of the state.

The BJP reasoned that the lawlessness was prevailing in the Valley and Governor rule was the only option to bring back peace and normalcy. As BJP pulled the rug under its partners feet, Mufti resumed her political rhetoric, saying, J&K was not an enemy territory and 'muscular policy' won’t work in Kashmir, which otherwise was implemented during her regime as well.

The armed forces have resumed Operation All Out aimed at wiping out militancy from the state, during which several civilians were killed as well. Violence didn’t stop during the unilateral ceasefire as well.

This year, till now, around 195 people including 55 civilians, 92 militants and 48 police, army and paramilitary personnel were killed. Over 55 youngsters have joined militancy in first six months this year.