8 militants including top commanders ,2 army men killed in South Kashmir gunfights, 2 civilians killed in post gunfight clashes

Srinagar/April,1: Two Army and eight militants, including “top commanders”, were on Sunday  killed in three separate encounter in different parts of South Kashmir.Two civilians were also  also killed and more than hundred others injured in clashes that broke out between protestors and the government forces after the gunfights. A militant, police has said, also surrendered before the government forces in Anantnag district.
A police official said government forces launched anti-militancy operations Saturday night at three places simultaneously in south Kashmir following information about the presence of  large number of militants there. He said the militants had assembled at these places to hold meetings about their future plans.
While one militant was killed and another surrendered before the forces at Dialgam in Anantnag district, seven m ilitants were killed in a gunbattle at Draggad in Shopian district, the official said.He said that another gun battle took place at Kachdooru Shopian and two army men were killed in the encounter.
Director General  Police (DGP) S P Vaid confirmed the killing of eight militants.“One terrorist kille d in Dialgam Anantnag after efforts of his family/ J&K Police failed to surrender, one caught alive. In Draggad Shopian 7 (seven) bodies of terrorists recovered including top commanders,” he wrote on micro blogging social networking site Twitter.The third encounter was on in Kachdoora area of Shopian where some civilians were trapped, Vaid said.
“Encounter also going on in Kachdoora Shopian, some civilian trapped efforts to rescue them on,” the DGP said.
Clashes between protestors and government forces broke out soon after th e news of militant killings spread in several parts of south  Kashmir.The protestors at Draggad and Kachdoora hurled stones at the government forces who responded by opening firing, the official said.He said two civilians have died so far while dozens others were injured.Several of the injured were taken to hospitals here. One of the injured persons condition is stated to be critical, the official said.
Reports of clashes have been received from other parts of south Kashmir  and some parts in summer capital Srinagar  city as well.Authorities have deployed police  and paramilitary personnel in strength in the city for maintaining law and  order.A police official, while giving details of the operations, said security forces had launched a search operation and cordoned the Draggad area of Shopian this morning following specific input regarding presence of militants in the area .He said as the searches were being conducted, the militants fired on the forces, which led to an encounter.In the ensuing gunfight, seven militants were killed, the official said, adding that identity and group affiliation of the slain militants is being ascertained.The operation is on and further details are awaited, the official said.
Earlier Sunday morning, a militant was killed while another surrendered before the government forces in Anantnag, the official said.Based on  specific input, security forces launched a cordon and search operation in Peth Dialgam area of Anantnag in the early hours, he said.The official said that the militants were detected and security forces made repeated requests on loud speakers asking them to surrender, as per the standard operating procedure.
On this, the official said, one of the militants (name with held) came out of a house and surrendere d.He has been taken into custody, th e official said , adding, his family also helped the police in motiv ating him to come out of the house and surrender.The other militant did not surrender and instead resorted to firing on forces which was retaliated and in which he was killed, he said.The slain militant was identified as Rouf Khanday, the official said, adding he had gone missing early this year and a photograph of him holding a gun was posted on social media in the last week of March.His body has been handed over to the family for last rites.Both militants were part of the outlawed militant organisation Hizbul Mujahideen, the official said.