4 media persons among several injured in clashes near Shopian encounter site

Srinagar: Several people, including three photojournalists and a reporter, were injured when security forces fired pellets and burst teargas shells to disperse demonstrators, who were trying to disrupt operation against militants in south Kashmir district of Shopian.
Meanwhile, Kashmir National Television Journalist Association (KNTJA) has condemned the attack on media persons, alleging that they (photojournalists) were showered with pellets by forces in Shopian while they were covering the operation.
Three militants were killed in an encounter which ensued after security forces launched a Cordon and Search Operation (CASO) in an orchard at Hafshermal in Shopian on Tuesday.
People, mostly youths and women, hit the streets at Hafshermal in Shopian when the news about the killing of the militants spread.
Security forces and state police personnel deployed to foil any attempt to disrupt the operation, immediately swung into action and burst teargas shells to disperse the demonstrators.
Security forces also fired pellets to disperse the demonstrators, who were regrouping and pelting stones and bricks.
Several protestors were injured during the lashes. Four media persons, including three photojournalists — Waseem Andrabi, Mir Burhan, Junaid Gulzar and a reporter Nisar ul Haq, received pellet injuries on face and neck when they were covering the gunfight.
All the injured were immediately taken to a local hospital. “Clashes were going on when the reports last came in,” official sources said, adding mobile internet service has been suspended in the district to prevent spread of rumours.
A KNTJA spokesperson in a statement issued here alleged that the media persons were performing their duties and while covering the encounter and protests at Shopian site, they were showered with pellets injuring four members of the fraternity.
“KNTJA has asked Governor Satya Pal Malik and Director General of Police Dilbag Singh to personally look into the matter and order an enquiry into the incident,” the statement said.