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Forces surround Sopore to flush out terrorists

Last updated on: February 20, 2010 10:35 IST
A soldier runs during a gun battle with militants in Sopore

A massive combing operation was launched on Saturday morning to flush out terrorists in a village in Jammu and Kashmir's Sopore district after gun shots were heard in the area.

Warpora Sopore, 55 km from Srinagar, was sealed by police and security forces after firing in the village.

Sopore -- known as the 'apple town' of Kashmir -- is fast gaining notoriety for becoming a safe haven of terrorists, especially of Pakistan-based Hizbul Mujahideen and Lashkar-e-Tayiba, as it has seen a sudden spurt in violence during the last six weeks.

Sources say nearly 30 to 40 militants are present in this north Kashmir town.

The terror groups Lashkar and Hizbul in this region are operated with active support of some overground workers, as the area has a domination of Jamat-e-Islami workers who are associated with pro-Pakistan separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani.

Kashmir's apple town turns terror haven

Last updated on: February 20, 2010 10:35 IST
A soldier runs during a gun battle with militants in Sopore

The town earlier saw terrorists digging a road and planting an improvised explosive device inside a water supply line.

This was followed by gunning down of four Central Reserve Police Force personnel in Watlab Bandipore area on the outskirts of Sopore.

There has been a pattern of targeted killing of police officials in the area in which information to militants is suspected to have been provided by the local overground workers of the terror groups.

Mohammed Ashraf Ganai, local National Conference MLA, says he would be holding talks with local-level workers to restore confidence in the administrative system while police were also planning to launch an offensive there soon.

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