Firefight on between security forces, terrorists in Srinagar outskirts, foreigners likely trapped

'A joint Police and security forces operation was launched in Zabarwan forest area of Srinagar based on specific intelligence about the presence of terrorists. An exchange of fire ensued during the operation,' Kashmir Zone Police said.

Srinagar: An encounter erupted between security forces and militants in the forest area of Ishber-Nishat on the outskirts of Srinagar city on Sunday.

A police official said that a joint team of security forces launched a cordon-and-search-operation in the upper reaches of Ishber-Nishat on specific information about the presence of militants in the area late Saturday evening.

“Contact was established with the hiding terrorists this morning and a gunbattle broke out around 9 am in the forest area connecting Dachigam and upper reaches of Nishat area here,” he said.

Two to three foreign terrorists are believed to be trapped in the area and heavy firing is going on, he added.

In a post on X, Kashmir Zone Police said: “A joint Police and security forces operation was launched in Zabarwan forest area of #Srinagar based on specific intelligence about the presence of #terrorists. An exchange of fire ensued during the operation. Further details will follow.”

Security forces have intensified operations against militants in recent weeks following a number of attacks carried out by terrorists on civilians and the army.

In the first nine days of November, eight terrorists were killed during six operations across Kashmir. On Saturday a foreign terrorist was killed during an encounter with security forces in the Rajpora area on the outskirts of Sopore in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district.

Two terrorists were killed in a Sagipora, Sopore encounter on Friday while two local militants were killed in Shangus, Anantnag , while a foreign LeT commander was killed in Srinagar’s Khanyar area.

A foreign terrorist was killed in Bandipora forests earlier this week while another foreign terrorist was killed during an encounter in Lolab forest.