Nine injured in Sopore militant attacks

SRINAGAR - At least nine people were injured in separate guerrilla attacks in north Kashmir’s Sopore town Monday while security forces surrounded a house where militants were holed up, police said.

Militants fired rifle grenades at a Rashtriya Rifles camp and then barged into a house in Batapora locality of Sopore, about 60 km from here.

“The house has been cordoned off by troops and the Special Operations Group (SOG) of the police. Two militants are believed to be inside,” a police officer said.

In a separate incident, guerrillas fired at a police team in Sopore Main Chowk near the State Bank of India building.

“Four people, including three police constables and a special police officer (SPO), were injured in the firing by militants at the Main Chowk this morning,” the officer said.

“The militants also fired a rifle grenade at the telephone exchange in Iqbal Nagar locality, injuring five people,” he added.

The office of the Sopore district police chief and the camp of the SOG are situated next to the telephone exchange building.