SRINAGAR: A special police officer ( SPO ) and a 22-year-old civilian were killed while a constable was injured in a terror attack at Warpora area of north Kashmir ’s Baramulla district late on Wednesday. In central Kashmir’s Budgam district, an encounter broke out after holed-up terrorists opened fire at security forces conducting a cordon-and-search operation in Chadoora area. The firefight continued till last reports came in.

On Wednesday evening, terrorists opened fire at a police party near Warpora police post, killing SPO Wajahat Ahmad Bhat of Wagoora Kreeri area and local youth Umar Subhan of Warpora on the spot, said official sources. Constable Showkat Ahmad Khanday, who sustained bullet injuries in the attack, was hospitalised.

The area was cordoned off after the attack and a search operation launched to trace the perpetrators, a police officer said while confirming the deaths.

In central Kashmir’s Budgam district, a joint team of security forces — comprising of Army and police personnel — launched a cordon-and-search operation in Zenipora village of Chadoora area late on Wednesday based on intelligence inputs. Holed-up terrorists opened fire at the search party, triggering an encounter, said a top cop. An intermittent exchange of fire continued till the filing this report.

