Kashmir: 2 militants, 1 civilian killed in encounter in Kulgam

One civilian and two militants were killed in a nightlong gunfight in south Kashmir Kulgam district.

A defence spokesman said two army soldiers injured during the gunfight are undergoing treatment in the army base hospital in Srinagar.

A senior police officer said the gunfight which started on Sunday evening has ended and bodies of two militants recovered from the debris in the Redwani village of Kulgam district.

He said one civilian identified as Asif Ahmad was killed during the protests by the locals near the encounter site while another wounded.

The villagers mostly youth had resorted to heavy stone pelting at the surrounding security forces at the encounter site in a bid to break the cordon to help militants to escape.

Police had resorted to teargas shelling and baton charges during which two civilians were injured, one of whom later succumbed.

“The operation has ended now,” he said.

Army and police had jointly surrounded the Redwani Bala village late Sunday afternoon on specific information about presence of a group of militants in the area.

As the security forces were busy in searches, hiding militants opened fire at the search parties of the security forces triggering an encounter which continued till late this morning.

A defence spokesman said one of the slain militants whom he identified as Javed Ahmad Bhat belonged to Lashkar-e-Tayiba outfit.

He said one AK-47 rifle, one self loading rifle and other stores were recovered from them.

A day earlier, army had foiled an infiltration bid in the Machil sector of north Kashmir Kupwara district killing two infiltrating militants. The operation, according to army is still on.