Pulwama: The overnight killing of an alleged Lashkar-e-Toiba militant sparked spontaneous shutdown and clashes in South Kashmir’s Pulwama district on Monday.
A non-local militant identified as Umar Rehman was killed while two of his associates were reportedly managed to escape during a gunfight in Samboora village of Pampore town in Pulwama district.
The encounter had started on Sunday night resulting in the clashes between locals and government forces. The area rocked with the pro-freedom protests whole night while on Monday thousands of people from adjoining areas including Lelhar, Lataora, Pulwama, Begumbagh marched towards encounter site.
Reports said that angry protesters stoned army vehicles who in retaliation resorted to aerial firing. Police and Para-military troopers deployed in the town fired tear-smoke shells and pellets to keep pro-freedom protesters at bay.
Reports said that civilian wounded during clashes near encounter site on Sunday night is stable.
Meanwhile, a complete shutdown was observed in the town against the killing of the militant. All the shops and business establishments in the district remained shut while skeletal movement of transport was observed on the roads.
