3 militants, jawan killed in Pulwama

SRINAGAR: An army jawan and three militants were killed in an encounter between militants and security forces in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district on Monday even as the Centre’s interlocutor, Dineshwar Sharma, arrived to initiate the dialogue process.

A civilian was also wounded in clashes between protesters and security forces near the encounter site. Officials said the gunfight broke out after a joint team of the army, police and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) launched a search operation following inputs about the presence of militants in Kandil Aglar village.

Kashmir inspector general of police, Muneer Khan, told HT on Monday evening that three militants have been killed in the gunfight while an army jawan also died. “We are trying to ascertain their identities. Possibly one should be local and two foreigners,” Khan said, adding that they were searching the area.

An army spokesman said that two AK-47 rifles and a pistol were recovered from the site. Police said the three slain militants were involved in an attack on Sunday, which killed a policeman in Pulwama.

Local reports said protests erupted near the encounter site in which a civilian received bullet injuries. The police control room in Pulwama confirmed that protests took place. Pulwama superintendent of police, Mohammad Aslam, confirmed that a civilian was wounded during the operation and was referred to the SKIMS Hospital here. A police spokesman later said that the civilian was injured in crossfire.