Two militants, 1 civilian killed in J&K encounter
SRINAGAR : Two Hizbul Mujahideen militants were killed and two army soldiers wounded in an encounter with government forces in Drabgam village of south Kashmir’s Pulwama district on Monday. A civilian was also killed in clashes near the encounter site.
The gunfight ensued when army, police and CRPF, in a joint operation, surrounded Drabgam after getting inputs about the presence of militants, officials said.
Superintendent of police, Pulwama, Mohammad Aslam said that two militants were killed and two weapons recovered from the site.
Director general of police SP Vaid identified the two slain militants as Sameer Tiger and Aquib, both residents of Pulwama.
He said that Tiger was involved in a number of civilian killings including that of (BJP worker Ghulam Nabi) Patel on April 25. “It should bring peace in the area,” Vaid said. An army officer and a soldier were also wounded in the gunfight.
Sameer was said to be a close confidant of HM commander Riyaz Naikoo, the police spokesman said later in the evening.
Inspector general of police SP Pani said that Sameer was a recruiter of HM and involved in “scores of atrocities on civilians” for the past two years. “It is very important killing in that belt,” Pani said.
A civilian, Shahid Dar, was also killed and at least 25 others were wounded in clashes between stone-pelting youth and security forces near the site of encounter.
Vaid confirmed that there were clashes around the encounter site during which the civilian was killed. The police spokesman said that the civilian “died in cross firing”.
A senior health official of Pulwama district said that Shahid Dar was around 18-20 years of age.
The health official said that around 25 people who were wounded were brought to the Pulwama district hospital of which 10 were referred for advanced treated to Srinagar.
Meanwhile, separatist leaders called for a complete shutdown on Tuesday against the “unabated killings”.