Five militants killed in Shopian gunfight, Civilian killed in clashes
SRINAGAR, AUG 4 (PTK): Police today claims that security Forces yesterday night jointly launched searches after it was able to track a group of militants in Kiloora area of District Shopian.
Police in a statement staid that during the search, militants hiding inside a house fired on the search party. “The fire was retaliated thereby establishing contact with the militants leading to an encounter. In the ensuing encounter, five militants were killed. The identity of the killed militants is being ascertained”, police said.
Police added that initially it came across that one civilian had lost his life in cross firing but subsequent investigation confirmed that no such civilian death had occurred and reports pertaining to the civilian death were inaccurate.
Pertinently the encounter later took place in an open area as the hiding militants, taking advantage of darkness came out of the house and fired indiscriminately on security Forces.
Arms and ammunition were also seized from the site of encounter. Police has registered a case and initiated investigation into the matter.
However twenty protesters were injured in clashes with the forces near the site of a gunfight. The protests erupted after scores of youth started pelting stones on forces near the gunfight site triggering clashes.
During the clashes, at least twenty youth sustained injuries who were later shifted to the nearby District hospital. Five among the injured have been shifted to Srinagar for specialized treatment, reports said.
One among the injured identified as Bilal Ahmad Khan, was declared dead on arrival. The deceased was a resident of Pooju village of the district.
Meanwhile authorities suspended the mobile internet services in South Kashmir’s Shopian district following the gunfight between the government forces and militants in Kiloora Shopian.
An official said that the service has been suspended as a precautionary measure to avoid any untoward accident.
Meanwhile, thousands of people took part in the funeral prayers of one local militant from Malikgund village killed along with four associates. (PTK)
