Kashmir: Security forces exchange fire with militants in Bandipora; hand grenade, cartridges recovered

Srinagar: A brief exchange of fire took place between security forces and militants in Bandipora district late Monday night, police said on Tuesday.

A joint party of the army and police signalled a taxi to stop at Bandipora late Monday night during routine checking, a police official said.

He said the driver of the vehicle ignored the signal and brought the vehicle to a halt some distance away.

“The militants disembarked from the vehicle and opened fire towards security forces who retaliated. However, the militants managed to escape from the spot under the cover of darkness, leaving behind the vehicle they were travelling in,” the official said.

He said the vehicle was seized and during search, the security forces recovered a hand grenade and some empty cartridges from it.

This comes just days after a Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorist was arrested from Bandipora and arms and ammunition recovered from his possession. The newly-recruited LeT militant was identified as Shahbaz Rasool Mir, a resident of nearby Hajin.

Mir was nabbed during a search operation in an orchard area in Markundal village in Sumbal area of the district, a police official said.

A Chinese pistol, a pistol magazine, four pistol rounds, a hand grenade, a knife and other items were recovered from his possession, the official said, adding a case has been registered.