Twelve militants, three soldiers and four civilians were killed in three gunfights and clashes in south Kashmir’s Shopian and Anantnag districts on Sunday. Over 100 civilians were injured in clashes that erupted near the gunfight sites while a militant surrendered before the forces.
Director General of Police SP Vaid said that the total of militants killed in these gunfights has risen to twelve with the killing of three militants in Kachidoora gunfight.
The identity of the militants killed in Kachidoora was yet to be ascertained, he said.
Seven militants were killed in a gunfight that erupted early today in Dragad village of the district.
A civilian, identified as Zubair Ahmad Bhat, was killed and over 100 others were injured after they tried to march towards the gunfight sites in Dragad and Kachdoora. Another deceased civilian, reportedly a house owner, was identified as Mushtaq Ahmad Thoker.
The third civilian, identified as Mehraj-ud-din Bhat, was killed in forces’ firing in Kachdoora. He was declared dead on arrival at district hospital Pulwama.
The fourth civilian, identified as Iqbal Bhat was declared dead on arrival at SKIMS Soura.
Three army soldiers were also killed in the gunfights. “We caught one militant alive and one was killed, in Anantnag. Two army jawans lost their lives in the ongoing operation. Few J&K police, CRPF, and Army personnel have suffered injuries,” said SP Vaid, DGP, J&K told journalists in Awantipora earlier today.
He said all the seven militants killed in Dragad have been identified as locals and their bodies have been claimed by their kin.
The slain militants were identified as Zubair Turray, Ishfaq Ahmad Malik, Yawar Itoo, Nazim Ahmad Dar, Adil Ahmad Thoker, Ubaid Ahmad Malla and Riyaz Ahmad Thokar – all residents of Shopian district.
An official at district hospital Shopian confirmed that fifty injured were brought to the facility. “Twenty among them were referred to Srinagar for specialized treatment. Two of them had bullet injuries while most of them were hit by pellets,” he said.
Thirty protesters were brought to district hospital Kulgam for treatment.
Two protesters with firearm injury were brought to District Hospital Anantnag for treatment, said an official at the facility. “Two were hit by bullets while two others were hit by pellets,” he said.
At least ten youth in the age group 16 to 26 with eye pellet injuries were brought to SMHS hospital from south Kashmir’s Shopian district on Sunday, officials said.
“After preliminary examination, the injured are being examined for extent of damage through CT Scan and other tests,” said a doctor.