20 killed in Kashmir violence
YOUTHS URGED NOT TO GET LURED BY WEAPONS, GEN. BHATT SAYS
Clashes one of the worst incidents involving security forces, militants in recent years |
Three soldiers and 13 militants were among 20 killed in the Kashmir Valley yesterday in fierce fighting whose victims included those who had abducted and murdered Lt Ummer Fayaz in May last year.
In one of the worst rounds of armed clashes between the security forces and militants in recent years, the fighting took place in two places in Shopian district and a third spot in Anantnag district in southern Kashmir.
During the fighting, a large number of civilians poured out of their homes, leading to more trouble. The Army, the Jammu and Kashmir Police and the Central Reserve Police Force said a total of 11 militants, three soldiers and four civilians lay dead at the end of the day.
One militant was killed in Dialgam in Anantnag district while one person was arrested there, a police officer said.
Seven militants were killed in Dragad village of Shopian district and five in Kachdoora village in the same district.
“Three Army soldiers were martyred in these operations,” a police officer said.
Four civilians were also killed in Shopian — one at Dragad and three at Kachdoora.
Special day
Addressing a joint press conference at Awantipora in Pulwama district, Lt Gen A. K. Bhatt, Commander of the Army’s Srinagar- based 15 Corps, said: “Today is a very special day for all our security forces.
“We have killed eight terrorists in two operations ...” he said, adding that the third operation was still going on in Kachdoora village — where eventually five militants were killed. While security forces had initially claimed three, bodies of two more militants were found in rubble when security forces searched the area afterwards.
Gen. Bhatt said two terrorists responsible for killing Lt Fayaz when he was visiting his family on a holiday had been eliminated. Fayaz, posted in the Rajputana Rifles in Akhnoor, was abducted and killed by militants in May last year, when he had gone to attend a family wedding, and his body was found the next day. “I appeal to youths not to get lured by weapons. Anybody who uses weapons will be dealt with in the same manner we dealt with the terrorists today.”