Two suspected Fidayeen and three CRPF personnel were killed in an encounter here this afternoon, J-K police said. Three securitymen were also injured in the gunbattle in Hawal area here. The militants had sneaked into the compound of a cinema hall that has a CRPF camp. ‘‘Both militants were killed in a brief operation,’’ IGP of CRPF told The Indian Express.‘‘We lost three jawans. One CRPF man was killed on the spot and the other two succumbed to injuries in hospital,’’ police said, adding that the encounter began at around 3 pm, when the two militants, armed with automatic weapons, hurled hand-grenades at the CRPF Company headquarters of the 96 Battalion near Firdous Cinema hall. They also opened indiscriminate fire and sneaked into the compound. ‘‘One militant, however, was killed near the gate when the alert CRPF men returned fire. Another militant managed to get into the main building,’’ police added. The IGP said that CRPF and police surrounded the building and the area was cordoned off. Reinforcements were rushed to the area from nearby camps. ‘‘It was the swiftest operation conducted by the CRPF against the Fidayeen in the recent times. Within half an hour the other militant was also killed,’’ the IGP said. The CRPF and the police later conducted search operations, as they suspected another militant to be in the building. But no one was found. No militant outfit has so far claimed responsibility for the attack.Today’s attack comes almost a week after a Fidayeen attack in Lal Chowk area here. Elsewhere, two militants were killed in an encounter with security forces at Kokernag Anantnag in south Kashmir last night. Reports said that on a tip-off, troops cordoned off the area and started search operations. Militants present there opened fire on the troops. In the gunfight that ensued, two militants, whose identities were yet to be ascertained, were killed.
