Security forces open fire on protesters in Baramullah, one youth killed
[Representational Image]IANS

Firing between security forces and militants began again on Monday morning after police received information about the presence of a militant inside a building.

A total of four militants have been neutralised in the district of Poonch in Jammu and Kashmir.

Three militants were killed in an encounter on Sunday in Poonch.

"J&K: Firing again starts in Poonch, exchange of fire between terrorists and security forces continues," ANI tweeted

Seven militants and one police personnel were killed in four separate encounters in Jammu and Kashmir on Sunday. Three of the four encounters happened when militants were trying to cross the Line of Control (LoC) into the Tangdhar, Gurez and Nowgam sectors.

The fourth encounter took place in Poonch after the police acted on a tip-off about three to four militants being holed up inside an under-construction building close to an army camp and had taken an elderly couple hostage. The couple was later rescued by the security forces after neutralising three militants.

The security forces came under heavy fire as they cordoned off the building resulting in the death of a police officer. A sub-inspector was also injured.

The army neutralised four heavily-armed militants, believed to be from Pakistan, in another encounter near the LoC in the Nowgam sector foiling an infiltration bid. Four AK-47 rifles and a large cache of ammunition were recovered from the site, according to local media reports.

Infiltration bids in the Tangdhar and Gurez sectors were also foiled by the army.

Meanwhile, at least 25 people were injured during raids conducted by security forces in Pulwama's Karimabaf village, the police said. The injured have been admitted in a local hospital. According to villagers, several houses were ransacked by the security forces during the raids.

The All J&K Goods Carrier Association (JKOTA) has announced a "complete strike," effective from Monday, in Kashmir, Ladakh and other parts of the state after protestors attacked two truck drivers and damaged 17 tankers in alleged stone-pelting attacks in the Valley.

JKOTA President Anan Sharma told reporters that it was not safe for the assosciation to operate trucks and tankers as they are regularly attacked by protestors in Kashmir. Over 70 trucks and tankers have been attacked while several drivers have suffered injuries in mob attacks, he added.

Several army troops have been deployed in Kashmir, which has been hit by violence since the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani by security forces in an encounter. The troops are likely to be deployed in areas, which were considered militancy-free since two years, NDTV reported.

Home Minister Rajnath Singh also chaired a high-level meeting in Kashmir that was attended by the national security adviser and the intelligence chiefs.