Militants attack security forces in Sopore, 2 injured

Militants struck at three places in Sopore in North Kashmir, leaving two policemen injured as curfew remained in force in violence-hit areas of of the valley for the fourth day on Friday.

Army, which staged flag marches in Srinagar, did not repeat the exercise this morning. The district administration asked the force to remain on stand by for deployment in case of an emergency.

The authorities were working on plans to give phased-relaxation in curfew to allow people to offer prayers. The Chief Minister, Mr Omar Abdullah, held an early morning review of the situation with senior administration and police officials and discussed the plan of curfew relaxation keeping in mind on Friday prayers and Shab-e-Mehraj, a religious function, on Saturday. Mr Omar has also convened an all-party meeting in Srinagar on Monday to discuss present situation. Suspected Lashkar-e-Tayyaba Militants hurled three grenades at a police convoy in the outskirts of Sopore city, 54 kms from here at 0030 hours on Friday, official sources said.

The grenades were followed by heavy firing which was effectively retaliated by the security personnel, they said, adding no one was injured.

The second incident took place at 0130 hours at main crossing of the city in Sopore, which left a jawan of Indian Reserve Police injured.

The third incident took place on Sopore-Baramulla road on 0230 hours when terrorists fired upon police vehicles, leaving one of the police drivers injured, the sources said.