15-hr gunbattle ends in J&K`s Tral; policeman martyred, two terrorists gunned down - Complete details inside

A security personnel was martyred and two terrorists were gunned down during the ongoing encounter at J&K`s Pulwama district.

Srinagar: Srinagar: A 15-hour long gunbattle between security forces and militants ended at Tral in south Kashmir's Pulwama district on Sunday morning.

One Jammu and Kashmar policeman was martyred at Hafoo Nazneepora area in the wee hours today and two terrorists were gunned down during the fierce gunbattle that began Saturday night. A combing operation has been launched to nab the terrorists who managed to flee the site.

A wreath laying ceremony was held for constable Manzoor Ahmed who lost his life in an encounter with terrorists in Tral.

"We have killed two terrorists in Tral encounter. While one of them is a top Hizbul Mujahideen commander, the other is a Pakistani national. It was a joint operation by Jammu and Kashmimr Police and security forces," SP Vaid, DGP J&K Police told ANI. 

The encounter began last night after security forces cordoned off the area and launched search operations in the evening based on specific inputs regarding the presence of around two or three Hizbul Mujahideen militants, who were reportedly close associates of slain militant Burhan Wani, in the village.

As the news about the encounter spread in the area, a law and order problem erupted, with civilians pelting stone at the forces after which Section 144 was imposed in the area. 

As per sources, an incident of a weapon being snatched from a CRPF jawan had emerged, yesterday.

The Army had launched a cordon and search in Tral at around 6:30 pm on the basis of information of the Special Investigation Team (SIT) in Srinagar on Saturday.

Hizbul militants holed up:

At least two Hizbul Mujahideen terrorists, including the right-hand man of slain Hizbul commander Burhan Wani -- Sabzar Bhat, were believed to be trapped in the encounter, a Zee News report said today morning.

The other militant has been identified as Mujahid, sources said. Both Sabzar and Mujahid are locals from Pulwama's Awantipora area. 

Sabzar was appointed as the commander of Hizbul Mujahideen after security forces killed Burhan Wani in an encounter last year. He was soon replaced by Zakir Musa as the new commander.

Section 144 imposed: 

Meanwhile, a local magistrate imposed Section 144, which forbids free assembly of more than four people, in the area. The mobile network in Tral has also been restricted as the encounter rages on.

Massive clashes erupted when a mob rained stones on security force personnel searching for militants in Nazneenpora village of south Kashmir's Pulwama district on Saturday evening. The Security forces blew up the house in which the militants were holed up.

The area has been sealed and security forces have been zeroed in on the house where terrorists were believed to be holed up. Attempts are underway to smoke out the terrorists.

More details are awaited.