Security forces surround south Kashmir village

SRINAGAR - Security forces Saturday afternoon cordoned off a village in the south Kashmir’s Pulwama district following information about the presence of a group of guerrillas there.

Troops of Rashtriya Rifles, paramilitary Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and the special operations group (SOG) of the local police surrounded the Batapora village in the district, 35 km from here, following the reports.

Eyewitnesses said some gunshots were heard in the area though there is still no official confirmation about a gunfight.

The village is very close to an air force base in the area.

“The area has been surrounded and the security forces are proceeding cautiously to zero in on the holed-up militants, who are believed to be hiding inside the village,” a police officer said here.