Brief exchange of fire between forces,and militants in Kokernag

Srinagar: Militants and government forces briefly exchanged gunfire in the pre-dawn hours on Sunday in Tangpawa village of Kokernag area in South Kashmir’s Anantnag district.

A police official said that a joint team of government forces including army’s 19RR, Jammu and Kashmir Police and paramilitary forces launched a cordon and search operation in Tangpawa village following inputs about presence of militants in the area.

He said that as the forces tightened the cordon around the spot where militants were suspected to be hiding, they were fired upon triggering a brief exchange of firing.

Reports said that there was a brief exchange of fire between the two sides. They said that the government forces have extended the cordon and search operation is on.

There is complete silence in the area at the moment and operation is on, local sources said.