MILITANT, CIVILIAN KILLED IN ANANTNAG

SRINAGAR: A militant was gunned down by the security forces in an encounter in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district on Tuesday morning while a 22-year-old civilian succumbed to bullet injuries sustained in the ensuing protests, officials said.

While a press release issued by the police said “one Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist was killed”, the army and state DGP SP Vaid said in separate tweets that “two militants” had been gunned down in the encounter with Kokernag police and security forces in Pehlipora village of Larnoo area.

The killed militant has been identified as Farhan Ahmad Wani, 18, of Kulgam district. An INSAS rifle and ammunitions were recovered from the encounter site, police said.

Police also said in its press release that the Kokernag police, along with personnel of 19RR and CRPF, launched a cordon and search operation during which “militants hiding in the area fired upon the joint search team”.

“The fire was retaliated, ensuing an encounter,” the note said.

As protests erupted in Wani’s native Khudwani village, Khalid Dar, 22, received a bullet injury as a law and order situation developed, police control room, Kulgam, said. Dhar later succumbed to his injuries.

Tuesday’s killings come three days after a powerful explosion in Sopore killed four policemen.

The Jaish- had claimed responsibility for the attack. The outfit had also claimed a fidayeen attack in which five personnel of the CRPF were killed in Pulwama district.