Four militants were killed in two separate operations of the security forces in Kashmir on Friday. One civilian was killed and over nine injured in clashes in Pulwama.
“All the three militants trapped in Pulwama were killed,” said Director-General of Police Shesh Paul Vaid.
The unidentified militants fired upon the search party in Pulwama’s Chatapora when the house they were holed up was encircled by a joint team of the Army, police and CRPF.
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House blown up
Explosives were used to demolish the house where the militants were hiding. “We are ascertaining their identity,” said the police.
There was speculation that a top Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) commander was hiding in the area. The operation faced stone-throwing protesters. Faizan Ahmed, a school-going student, was killed as youth hurling stones clashed with the security forces. Ahmed suffered a firearm injury in the upper portion of the body, said hospital sources.
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Over nine youth were injured in the clashes, as security forces fired smoke shells and pellet shotguns to disperse mobs trying to help the trapped militants.
Locals said the mosque public address system was used to galvanise support for the street protests.
In a separate operation, a militant was killed in a gunfight in Kachama forest of Kupwara, Srinagar-based Army spokesperson Colonel Rajesh Kalia said.
“An assault rifle was also recovered near the body of the militant,” he said.
Three soldiers injured
Police said militants opened fire on an Army patrol and injured three soldiers in Shopian on Friday morning. The patrol came under attack at Ahagam village when personnel of the Army’s 44 Rashtriya Rifles “were deployed at an Army Goodwill School.”
Militant outfit Jaish-e-Muhammad claimed responsibility for the attack.