CRPF trooper killed, civilian injured in Pulwama gunfight; militants escape

Pulwama: The gunfight that had been raging in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district since midnight has ended with the killing of a paramilitary Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) trooper. All three militants trapped in the area have escaped.
Reports said that the gunfight began around midnight after a joint team of 55 RR, SOG of Jammu and Kashmir and 182 Bn CRPF cordoned off Chinar bagh, Mohalla Takya in Barpora.
They said a CRPF trooper injured in initial exchange of fire has succumbed. He was identified as Mandeep Kumar of 182 BN CRPF.
Two houses were damaged during the gunfight and owner of one of the houses Bashir Ahmad suffered an injury in his shoulder. Officials said Ahmad suffered a minor injury following which he was hospitalised.
The militants managed to escape while taking advantage of darkness amid stone pelting in the area. The militants fled at around 3:00 am, GNS news agency reported, quoting sources.
“There was a possibility of collateral damage as such we had to call off the operation. The militants took advantage of the darkness and fled,” SSP Pulwama Mohammad Aslam Choudary was quoted as having said.
Police version:
On late Friday night, a joint patrol of 55 RR, 182 &183 Bn CRPF and Pulwama Police was sent in for carrying out searches inside the village at Chinar Bagh Mohalla Takiya in District Pulwama.
After receiving a specific tip of about the presence of militants inside the village, a joint team of Army, Police and CRPF began searches inside the village and as soon the search party approached towards the suspect house, the militants hiding inside fired indiscriminately due to which the house owner Bashir Ahmad sustained a shoulder injury and is stated to be stable now.
Area was immediately taken into cordon and the searches were intensified. However militants taking advantage of the darkness fled from the spot.
The operation was later called off in early morning.
Besides in the initial exchange of fire, one CRPF jawan also sustained injuries and later the CRPF jawan succumbed to his injuries.