Three militants and a soldier were killed on Saturday in a gunfight in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district, while seven civilians died after forces opened fire on protesters in subsequent clashes in the area.
The gunfight broke out in Kharpora Sirnoo village after the government forces launched a cordon-and-search-operation following a tip-off about the presence of militants.
An army spokesman in Srinagar said that three militants and a soldier were killed in the gunfight. The slain militants were identified as Zahoor Ahmad Thokar, Adnan Hamid Bhat of Kareemabad and Bilal Ahmad Magray of Rajpora.
Seven civilians were killed and around 35 others were wounded after forces opened fire on protesters near the site of the gunfight. A police spokesman said that the civilians came “dangerously close” to the site of the gunfight.
The slain civilians were identified as Shahbaz Ali, resident of Monghama village, Suhail Ahmad of Bellow, Liyaqat Ahmad from Parigam, Murtaza of Prichoo, Amir Ahmad Palla of Ashminder and Abid Hussain Lone of Kareemabad.
News agency GNS reported that a civiian, identified as Touseef Ahmad Mir, who was critically injured in the forces’ action succumbed at SMHS hospital.
Mir, it said, was injured in forces’ action in Sirnoo and was taken to district hospital Pulwama where from he was referred to SMHS Srinagar. However, he succumbed due to grave injuries.
Giving details about the gunfight, a police spokesman said that a search operation was launched jointly by the security forces based on a credible input about the presence of militants in Monghama area of village Sirnoo today morning.
He said that the militants fired indiscriminately during the search operation from a hideout in an open field in the village.
“Consequently, army personnel got injured and one Army soldier succumbed to his injury while others are being treated at a hospital,” said the spokesman.
“While the operation was going on, a crowd who came dangerously close from different parts to the encounter site got injured,” he added.
He said the injured were evacuated to hospital where “unfortunately seven persons succumbed to their injuries.”
Others who were admitted in the hospital are stated to be stable, he said.
“The loss of civilians is deeply grieved. Police once again appeals the citizens to remain away from encounter site as it is a prohibited zone which involves significant danger to life because of nature of the encounter,” said the spokesman.