Saahil Suhail
Early Times Report
Kulgam, Oct 21: Security forces on Sunday killed three Jaish-e-Muhmmad (JeM) militants in an encounter in Laroo Village of Kulgam district. A blast near the encounter site post gunfight also killed at least six civilians.
As per official reports, security forces-Army's 9RR, SOG Kulgam and CRPF-cordoned off Laroo village of Kulgam after receiving information about the presence of militants on late Saturday evening.
They said that militants, hiding in a residential house, fired upon forces when they were laying cordon and initiating a search operation.
During the initial gunfire, they said, two army soldiers suffered minor injuries. Both of them were immediately evacuated to hospital for treatment.
On Sunday morning, security forces neutralized three militants while the information was about the presence of five to six militants in the area.
Officials, who were part of the operation, admitted that some militants escaped from the encounter site due to heavy clashes that erupted near the encounter site between forces and youth.
Slain militants were identified as Shahid-ul-Islam of Wangam Shopain, Yazil Makroo of Arwani Kulgam and Zubair Ahmad Lone of Aawhtoo Kulgam.
Bodies of the three slain militants have been handed over to their families for last ritual. In shopain, a group of militants appeared in the funeral of militant Shahid-ul-Islam and offered gun salute.
Post gunfight, a blast near the encounter site also killed at least six civilians and injured over 40 civilians.
Hundreds of people, according to eye witnesses, who thronged the encounter site once the forces concluded the operation and withdrew from the area.
An explosive device went up when people were sprinkling water on the debris of the house that forces had damaged during the gunfight.
Three civilians died on post while as four others succumbed to injuries in Srinagar hospitals.
Slain civilians were identified as Ubaid Ahmad, Irshad Ahmad, Tajamul Ahmad, Saqib Maqbool, Masroor Ahmad, Auqib Ahmad Sheikh.
To control the law and order situation in Kulgam, district administration snapped internet and barred voice-calling besides imposed restrictions in the town. |
