Civilian killed as cops ‘open fire’ at protesters in Valley

THE CIVILIAN CASUALTY AND INJURIES OCCURRED WHEN FORCES OPENED FIRE TO QUELL THE PROTEST IN PULWAMA DISTRICT NEAR THE SITE OF THE KILLING OF 2 MILITANTS

SRINAGAR:ONE civilian was killed and at least four others critically injured when security forces allegedly opened fire at protesters in Pulwama district near the site of the gun-battle in which two militants, including Lashkar-e-toiba (LET) commander Waseem Shah, were neutralised in the morning.

According to locals, the civilian casualty and injuries occurred when forces opened fire to quell the protest. A senior Pulwama police officer, however, told HT that the civilian was killed because “he was caught in the crossfire”.

“Gulzar Ahmad Mir was brought dead with a firearm injury,” an official at the district hospital told HT. He said two others were rushed in critical condition and were later referred to hospitals in Srinagar.

“Another two were brought with pellet injuries — with one

of them hit in the right eye.”

COP KILLED IN ATTACK

A Jammu and Kashmir police officer was killed and another injured when militants attacked a police vehicle in the state’s Kulgam district on Saturday evening, police said. Constabledriver Khurshid Ahmad was killed and another officer was injured when militants fired at the vehicle in Damhal Hanjipora area of Kulgam, they added.

“The area has been cordoned off and security force reinforcements rushed to the spot,” police said.