Srinagar: Three Lashkar-e-Toiba militants were killed in an overnight encounter with government forces in Kakapora area of Pulwama district in south Kashmir on Thursday while a civilian also died in the post encounter clashes. Another civilian is battling life in the hospital after he received bullet injuries during day long clashes across South Kashmir.
An amy major was also wounded in the firefight that erupted late Wednesday night after militants fired on forces who were laying a siege to New Colony Kakapora.
“A joint nakka party of police, army and paramilitary forces observed some suspicion movement near New Colony Kakpora at around 8 pm. Forces cordoned off the area and launched searches to nab the militants,” said a police official.
“At around 9 pm, a contact was established with the hiding militants and the exchange of firing started.”
Reports said that three militants of Lashkar-e-Toiba were killed after forces blasted the house where they were hiding.
The slain militants were identified as Shariq and Majid of Kakapora and Shabir of Padgampora area of Awantipora in the Pulwama district.
A police official said that acting on a specific input Pulwama police along with 50 RR and CRPF launched a cordon and search operation in Bank Mohalla Kakapora.
“During the search militants hiding in the area fired at the search party, resulting in injury to one army official who is stated to be stable.”
“The fire was retaliated, ensuing an encounter. Three LeT militants were killed in this encounter who were identified as Majid Hameed Mir son of Abdul Hameed, Shakir Ahmad Jugjoo son of Bashir Ahmad, residents of Kakapora and Irshad Ahmad Dar son of Mohammad Sultan Dar resident of Aghangipora Padgampora, Awantipora.’
“Two AK rifles and 01 Pistol was recovered from the encounter site.
Majid Hamid Mir was involved in killings of Sarpanch Fayaz Ahmad resident of Kandizal and Sarpanch Fayaz Ahmad resident of Dar Mohalla Kakapora. He was also involved in grenade attacks on PP Kakapora and bank robbery at Wahibugh.”
“Majid along with Shakir Gugjoo were involved in the killing of advocate Abdul Gani and killing of a civilian Aijaz Ahmad resident of Urbugh. They were also involved in the bank robbery at Nehama,” Police press statement reads.
“After the burial of militants, a violent mob attacked Police Post Kakapora. In order to save lives and government property, the security forces used riot control measures in which one person identified as Tawseef Ahmad @Chota Geelani resident of Tengpuna Pulwama was injured. The injured was shifted to hospital for treatment where he succumbed to his injuries.
He was a chronic stone pelter and was involved in 10 stone pelting cases right from 2010 and has been earlier booked two times under PSA.”
Eyewitnesses and reports said that restrictions were imposed in different parts of South Kashmir as a precautionary measure, in view of prevailing law and order situation,” said a statement, issued by District Magistrate Pulwama.
“Further the class work in Govt Degree Colleges and Higher Secondary School shall remain suspended today on 22 June 2017.”
Internet services remained also affected.
Reports said that massive clashes erupted after the culmination of the encounter. Scores of protesters sustained injuries during these clashes.
Sources said that over five dozen persons injured during clashes were brought to the public health centre Kakapora.
They said that 18 injured were referred to Srinagar for advanced treatment. They added that those referred to Srinagar were having multiple pellet injuries.
Sources in the Sub District Hospital Pampore said that they received 5 injured from Kakapora and referred 2 to Srinagar.
The clashes erupted after thousands of people gathered in Kakapora to attend the funeral of two militants killed in an encounter.
A youth Tawseef Hassan Wani of Tengapuna Pulwama was injured amd brought to Pampore hospital where he was declared brought dead, sources said.
A ninth class student was injured after government forces allegedly opened fire on stone pelting protesters in Koil Pulwama. The protesters were protesting the killing of three militants and a civilian.
Identified as Kamran Mohiuddin was immediately rushed to hospital.
The incident happened when scores of youth pelted stones on a police party passing through the south Kashmir village was stoned by youth.
The party immediately resorted to aerial firing to disperse the protesters, witnesses said adding one of the bullets hit Kamran.
Situation remained very tense in Pulwama district throughout the day.
Meanwhile the Joint Resistance Leadership has called for protests after Friday prayers against the “target killing” of a civilian in Kakapora area of Pulwama district of Jammu and Kashmir.
In a statement, the leadership condemned the killing of the civilian following the death of three militants in an encounter with forces.
The leadership dubbed as “genocide” the “target killing” of a civilian and injuring of over 40 persons during the clashes with government forces.They said that a spike in civilian killings has been witnessed after the threat issued by Indian army chief Gen Bipin Rawat.
“Forces personnel have been provided with a license to carry out the killings,” they said.
