The memories of gunfight in which four families lost their houses were still fresh in the minds of people at Wani Mohala –Khudwani when another family from the same locality which had barely survived the inferno that day has been left without a shelter.
On April 11, government forces had set ablaze four houses in an eighteen hour long gun-battle with the three LashkarI-Toiba militants who finally had managed to escape.
Four civilians were killed and sixty others injured while trying to help the besieged militants escape.
This time the militants had taken shelter at Lateef Ahmad Wani’s house located adjacent to the four gutted houses.
Wani – a operation theatre technician in government health department is part of a Haj delegation this year and only his wife and three children were home.
The smoke still rose from the three storey concrete house as the neighbors and relatives are trying hard to salvage the household goods.
However, locals say the family is left with nothing.
“The house was partially damaged in encounter in April as many bullets had hit its walls but luckily it did not catch the fire that day. But today as soon as the encounter started in the wee hours forces set this house on fire,” said eyewitness identifying himself as Qamar u Din.
The forces had laid siege around 12:00 in the midnight and at 6:00 am in the morning the sound of bullets broke the morning silence.
“For the entire night the forces after installing lights and taking positions started searches in the area. They then took MuhamadYousufWani – a teacher by profession with them for searches in the Wani’s house. His son was also taken along. However, they (forces) could not find anyone inside despite repeated searches,” said Qamar.
He said that as soon as the exchange of fire started the forces set the house ablaze.
“The militants after some time came out and there was another bout of firing in the open. They were finally shot dead in the compound.”