2 militants killed, CRPF man injured in overnight Balhama gunfight

Pulwama: Thousands of people participated in the last rites of two slain militants at two different places in South Kashmir on Friday.
Two militants Shabir Ahmed of Aghanzpora Awantipora and Owais Ahmed Bhat of Navdal Tral were killed in a gunfight at Balhama area in the outskirts of Srinagar city.
The gunfight had begun on Thursday after militants attacked the policemen guarding a Bharatiya Janata Party leader Dr Anwar Khan.
“Following leads, forces cordoned a cluster of houses at Balhama, wherein the hiding militants fired upon them. During the initial firing, a CRPF personnel sustained bullet injuries and was shifted to 92 Base Hospital for treatment. He is stated to be stable,” said a police spokesman.
Both the militants were laid to rest amid pro-freedom slogans. Both the militants belonged to Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind militant outfit, according to a senior police official.
Meanwhile, a complete shutdown was observed in Pulwama district to mourn these killings.
All shops and other commercial establishments remained closed while traffic remained off the roads. Large contingent of government forces personnel were deployed to maintain law and order across Pulwama town.
Amid heavy deployment, clashes erupted in several areas of Pulwama district.
Witnesses said that clashes erupted in Nawdal Tral after the burial of Owais Ahmad at his ancestral graveyard in the village.
Clashes also erupted at Aghanzpora, Padgampora while large number of youth pelted stones of Forces personnel who retaliated with tear smoke shelling.
At Murran chowk in main Pulwama town, according to eyewitnesses, youth took to streets and clashed with the forces deployed in the area to thwart protests.
Mobile Internet service continued to remain suspended on the second consecutive day in Awantipora on Friday.