Twin encounters in Poonch, policeman killed, two others hurt

A policeman was today killed and two others, including an officer, were injured as security forces engaged in twin encounters with four terrorists who are holed up at two places near the under-construction Mini Secretariat in Poonch town.
The encounters erupted at around 7.30 AM when the militants started firing from near the Mini Secretariat building, which is under construction, close to Army's 93 Brigade headquarters, police said.
The attackers then barged into a house in Allah Pir locality and another structure near the Mini Secretariat.
"Four militants are involved in the two encounters at two different locations", Director General of Police Rajendra Kumar told PTI from Kishtwar.

"They (militants) are in a house, where there is a civilian couple. Forces are retrieving them. We have to evacuate the civilians first," he said.
Kumar, who is closely monitoring the twin encounters, said, "they (militants) have been pinned down and cordoned off".

One policeman has been killed and a Sub-Inspector was injured in the encounter, the DGP said. The deceased has been identified as R Kumar.
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The militants tried to escape taking advantage of the darkness but the alert security forces opened fire forcing the ultras to retreat, a police official said.
One of the militants is believed to have been killed but it can be confirmed only when the body is retrieved, the official added.