4 civilians, 2 militants killed in Kashmir

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 that broke out near the encounter site.

The gunfight started when army, police and CRPF personnel surrounded Drabgam following information about the presence of militants, officials said.

Director general of police SP Vaid identified the two 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.

An army officer and a soldier were wounded in the gunfight.

Toger was said to be a close confidant of Hizbul commander Riyaz Naikoo, the police spokesman said later in the evening.

Inspector general of police SP Pani said that Tiger was a recruiter for HM and involved in “scores of atrocities on civilians” for the past two years. “It is a very important killing in that belt.”

A civilian, Shahid Dar, was also killed while at least 25 others were wounded in clashes with the security forces near the site of the encounter. Police claimed that Dhar “died in cross firing”.

A health official in Pulwama said Dar was aged around 18-20. The official added that of the 25 brought to the hospital, 10 were referred to Srinagar hospital.

Separatist leaders, Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Muhammad Yasin Malik, in a joint statement, called for a complete shutdown on Tuesday against the “unabated killings” and “injuries to unarmed people by using bullets and pellets and unleashing a reign of terror”.

Meanwhile, three civilians were killed by militants on Monday evening in Baramulla town, police said. The dead were identified as Asif Ahmed Sheikh, Haseeb Ahmed Khan and Mohammed Asghar, all residents of Kakar Hamam.

“Senior police and other security force officers have reached the spot. Further details are awaited,” a police officer said.