Kulgam/April, 11: Three civilians and an army man were on Wednesday killed during a gunfight and clashes in Khudwani area of south Kashmir’s Kulgam district .
An official said that the gunfight broke out in Wani Mohalla area of Khudwani latest Tuesday night at about 11.00 P.M after forces launched a cordon-and-search operation. He said that three forces’ personnel were injured in the gunfight. The injured were shifted to army base hospital where an army man succumbed to his injuries.
Two militants of Lashkar-e-Toiba are believed to be trapped inside a house. Law enforcing authorities Wednesday morning suspended Internet services in twin districts of Kulgam and Anantnag. Clashes erupted near the site of the gunfight as the youth tried to disrupt the anti-militant operation and help the militants escape. Forces fired live ammunition, pellets and tear gas to disperse the protesters, resulting into death of two civilians, reports said.
The deceased civilians were identified as Sharjeel Ahmad Sheikh (28), Bilal Ahmad Dar (16) and Faisal Illahi of Sangam. Dar of Kujjar village in Qaimoh tehsil of the district was declared brought dead at sub-district hospital Qaimoh. A doctor at the hospital said that the boy had suffered a bullet injury.
Sheikh was killed after being hit by a bullet during clashes near the site of gunfight in Wani Mohalla of Khudwani. He succumbed at District Hospital Anantnag. Faisal Illahi, a resident of Sangam area, succumbed at SDH Qaimoh. Reports said that dozens of civilians have been injured in the clashes. At least two with pellet injuries in eyes have been shifted to a hospital in Srinagar for specialized treatment.
