Four policemen injured in Kashmir gunfight

Four policemen were injured Tuesday in a gunfight between security forces and separatist guerrillas in Kashmir's Baramulla district, an official said.

A senior police official told IANS that security forces closed in on a house in Chankhan locality of Sopore town, 55 km from here, Tuesday morning following information about the presence of a group of guerrillas.

"As the cordon around the house was being tightened, hiding militants hurled a grenade and started indiscriminate firing at the security forces," the official said.

"Four of our boys have been injured in the initial firing by the militants. All of them are being shifted to Srinagar for treatment," he added.

He said that one of the policemen "sustained serious injuries".

"Exchange of gunfire is on in the area. We have marked off the house and all escape routes for the militants have been plugged."

Besides the Special Operations Group (SOG) of the police, soldiers of counter-insurgency Rashtriya Rifles and troopers of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) were also engaged in the operation.