Manhunt for ten terrorists in Kashmir's Pampore region

Srinagar: The security forces continued the hunt for around 8 to 10 Lashkar-e-Taiba militants hiding in the Noor Takia forests of Pampore in Pulwama region of Jammu and Kashmir state on Wednesday. Top Lashkar commanders, including Rehman Bhai, are believed to be hiding in the 5-kilometre stretch in the forests. Assisted by the CRPF (Central Reserve Police Force) and the police, the army has put up a strong security cordon in the area to launch a massive search operation. Helicopters have been pressed into service. The forces have also taken steps to ensure the security of the locals. "The firing has been going on since yesterday. It started at six yesterday. It went on throughout the night. The people in the village were scared but the security forces have taken steps to ensure that we do not face trouble while the operation is on," said Ghulam Muhammad, a local. Meanwhile, two militants were killed in an encounter with security forces in Kupwara district of north Kashmir. Acting on a tip-off, police assisted by army had cordoned off Satkoji near Zachaldara, 80 km from here, and opened retaliatory fire on the militants. A search operation is still going on in the area, they said. On Tuesday, a soldier was injured in an encounter with militants at Ladhu forests in Pampore, 30 kilometres from Srinagar. The army and the police together laid an ambush after receiving a tip-off that the militants were hiding in the forested area on Monday.