Umar Rashid

Srinagar, January 22:(GNS) Top Hizb ul Mujahideen militants are believed to be trapped even as a fresh exchange of firing resumed in Heff Shirmal area of South Kashmir’s Shopian district on Tuesday morning.

Reports reaching GNS said that a joint team of army’s 44RR. Para and SOG launched a search operation in Shirmal after having credible input about presence of some militants in the area.

As the joint team of forces intensified searches towards suspected spot the hiding militants fired upon goverment forces triggering an encounter.

A senior Police official told GNS that brief exchange of firing has taken place between militants and goverment forces in an orchard of Shirmal.

The officer said that firing has stopped as off now and we have started searches in the orchard as its very vast area.

All the exit routes towards the area as has been sealed off.

Meanwhile, sources said that a fresh exchange of firing resumed after a lull in the area. When reports last came in the intermittent exchange of firing was going on. (GNS)