Srinagar: In a snub to the Central government's unilat­eral suspension of all offen­sive operations against ter­rorists in Kashmir, terror out-fits dared security forces in at least two gun-battles, blasted a bomb and snatched a ser­vice rifle of a constable across the Valley on Wednesday.

A joint team of army's 23 PARA Commandos, SOG and CRPF launched a cordon-and- search operation at Jamnagri area of south Kashmir's Shopian district. As the forces were zeroing in on a specified tar­ get, terrorists hiding in the area opened fire which was retaliated by the forces, triggering off a gunfight, sources said. However, sympathisers rushed to help the terrorists escape from the hide-out, by throwing stones on the security forces who were engaged in the encounter. Four persons were reportedly injured hi the clashes. Sources said the ter­rorists managed to escape from the spot.

Before the announcement of the unilateral ceasefire, a brief exchange of firing took place between security forces and terrorists in Tral forests, a police official said.

Two civilians were in­jured in a bomb blast near Pincho Mandi in Chatabal ar­ea of Srinagar old city on Sri­nagar highway to Baramulla. In another incident, two pis­tol-borne terrorists entered Kashmir University at Hazratbal from Rumi Gate, over­powered the constable on guard duty and snatched his service rifle. "They are even snatching rifles outside Kashmir University now. It doesn't look like any place in Kashmir is safe any longer," former chief minister Omar Abdullah tweeted.

Courtesy: Times Of India, 17, May, 2018.