By IANS,
Srinagar : A special police officer (SPO) was killed and 13 security men, including an paramilitary officer, were wounded in a shootout in Kashmir Wednesday.
A joint team of 22 Rashtriya Rifles (RR), Special Operations Group (SOG) of the police and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) Tuesday evening surrounded a suspected militant hideout in Warpora locality of Sopore town, in north Kashmir, 54 km from here.
An unofficial report said four guerrillas of the Hizbul Mujahideen militant outfit were holed up inside the house.
“As the joint raiding party tried to enter the house, the troopers came under heavy automatic gunfire from the militants who also hurled grenades,” a police officer said here.
In the ensuing 20-hour-long shootout, “SPO Abdul Rashid was killed and 13, including seven RR troopers, four SOG personnel and two CRPF men were injured”, the officer said.
The injured CRPF men included deputy superintendent Jatinder Kumar, the officer said, adding the exchange of fire was on when reports last came in.
“We have tightened the cordon around the house and have engaged the hiding militants in a sustained gun fight. Senior police, RR and CPRF officers are at the spot supervising the operation,” he said.