3 local militants killed in Pulwama gunfight

Pulwama: Three local militants were killed in a nocturnal encounter that raged between security forces and militants in Ghat area of Kakapora South Kashmir’s Pulwama district, police said Friday.
A woman sustained bullet injuries while as several civilians were hit by pellets at the gunfight site.
Acting on a specific lead, joint teams of army’s 50 RR, police and 183 Bn CRPF laid a siege late night Thursday in Ghat area of Kakapora, Pulwama.
“When the forces zeroed in on the suspected house, the hiding militants opened indiscriminate firing triggering an encounter. The security forces halted the operation to ensure that all the civilians are evacuated,” a police officer said. The intense exchange of fire took place at 4:30 and with the first light, three local militants were killed, the official said.
Addressing a press conference at PCR Srinagar, Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kashmir Vijay Kumar said that all three militants were given a chance to surrender but they refused. “All three slain were locals. They had joined militancy in February and March this year,” the IGP said. “Two out of three slain were involved in Thursday’s attack on BJP leader’s Srinagar residence in which a policeman was killed and his riffle snatched.” The IGP said from the slain militants, snatched riffle (SLR) was recovered besides one AK-47 rifle and a pistol.
A police spokesman in a statement issued on Friday said that soon after the attack on BJP leader in Nowgam, Srinagar, Police shared a lead with Pulwama police regarding presence of militants in Larve area of Pulwama.
“Pulwama Police further developed the specific intelligence regarding presence of militants in a residential house belonging to Nawaz Ahmad Dar in village Dhobi Mohalla area of Kakapora Accordingly, a joint cordon and search operation was launched by Police, 50RR and 183Bn CRPF in the said area,” the police spokesman said. “During the search operation, as the presence of militants got ascertained they were given an opportunity to surrender, however, they started firing indiscriminately at the joint search party which was retaliated leading to an encounter. The joint party also tactfully rescued five civilians who were made hostages by the trapped militants.”
The police spokesman said that during encounter, a stray bullet hit a woman in her leg and was immediately removed to hospital for treatment where her condition is stated to be stable.
The slain militants were identified as Junaid Ahmad Nengroo, resident of Prichoo, Pulwama, Suhail Nisar Lone and Yawar Ahmad Wani both residents of Khrew Pampore, affiliated with proscribed militant outfits Al-Badr/LeT, the police spokesman said.
He said that preliminary investigation revealed that yesterday’s Nowgam militant attack was jointly carried out by Srinagar/Pulwama based militants of LeT and Al-Badr outfits in which one police personnel was killed and his rifle was also snatched.
“Militants Suhail Nisar and Junaid Ahmad used an Alto-800 vehicle bearing registration number JK13E-2098 to commute from Nowgam to Pulwama which belongs to the house owner where encounter took place. Pertinently, the SLR rifle snatched from the slain policeman yesterday at Nowgam was also recovered from the encounter site and the recovery of the rifle corroborates the involvement of the killed militants in the said attack,” it further reads.
The police spokesman said that last rites of the killed militants shall be performed after conducting medico-legal formalities at Baramulla and their nearest family members shall be allowed to participate in the last rites.
He said that during the withdrawal of the forces from encounter site, some miscreants resorted to stone pelting on Police/SFs and the crowd were dispersed by using non-lethal weapons in which a few miscreants received minor injuries and in this connection Police have registered a case under relevant sections of law and investigation has been initiated. Meanwhile, official sources said that that around 11 persons received injuries during clashes near encounter site who all are stable