Bloodbath in Shopian: Four more youth killed, civilian toll five

Srinagar: Four more youth were killed, taking the civilian death toll to five in Shopian district of south Kashmir on Sunday.

Sources said that all the four were critically injured in alleged forces firing near gunfight site and were shifted to different hospitals where they succumbed.

The slain identified as Sajad Rather of Sehpora Dooru, Zubair Ahmad Nigro of Ayangund Rajpora, Yasir of Shopian and Adil Bashir Ganie of Mahgund Ashmuji Kulgam.

Earlier, a civilian identified as Asif Ahmad Mir (17) of Rahmoo, Pulwama suffered critical head injuries near Badigam and later succumbed to injuries at SMHS hospital.

A police officer also confirmed the killings and said that it is being investigated under what circumstances they were killed.

Five militants including top Hizb commander Sadam Padder and Kashmir University assistant professor Dr Mohammad Rafi were killed in the encounter that broke out early Sunday Badigam village after the joint team of Army, SOG and CRPF launched a cordon and search operation in the area.

A civilian teenaged youth Asif Ahmad Mir (17) of Rahmoo Pulwama who sustained critical bullet wounds on the head during clashes near the gunfight site and succumbed later at SMHS hospital here.

A policeman and a soldier of 44 RR were injured in the initial exchange of fire with the militants, reports said. The injured were shifted to 92 base military hospital in Badami Bagh Srinagar.

Over a dozen protesters have been injured during clashes near the encounter site. (GNS)