Death toll reaches nine during gunfight in Pulwama

SRINAGAR — At least nine persons including four soldiers, a cop, three militants and a civilian have been killed in an encounter at Pinglena area of south Kashmir’s Pulwama district. Also, six soldiers and DIG South Kashmir Range suffered injuries in the exchange of fire.

The casualties occurred just four days after a suicide attack killed at least 49 CRPF personnel at Lethpora area of the same district.

A police official said that based on credible inputs about the presence of militants in Pinglena area of south Kashmir’s Pulwama district, a cordon and search operation was launched jointly by police and government forces in the intervening night in the area.

“As the searches were going on, militants from inside the target house fired indiscriminately on the search party. In the initial burst of fire, four Army jawans and one civilian sustained critical gunshot injuries. They were evacuated to hospital for medical attention,” said the police spokesman.

He said that four injured Army soldiers and the civilian later on succumbed to their injuries. “The deceased Army men have been identified as Major Vibhuti Shankar Dhoundiyal, Hawaldar Sheo Ram, Sepoy Hari Singh and Sepoy Ajay Kumar,” he said.

The slain civilian, also the owner of the house where militants were trapped initially, was identified as Mushtaq Ahmad Bhat.

“The fire was retaliated by the forces leading to an encounter. In the ensuing encounter so far, two militants have been killed and their bodies were retrieved from the site of encounter. The identities and affiliations of the killed militants are being ascertained. The encounter is still in progress and the security forces are on the job,” he added.

A couple of houses were destroyed after they caught fire due to intense gunfight. A cop who was identified as Abdul Rashid Kalas was also killed in the encounter, said reports.

Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Police – South Kashmir Range, Amit Kumar and a Brigadier were also injured in the exchange of fire.

Sources in the police said DIG South Kashmir, Amit Kumar was injured after being hit by a bullet in his leg. They said that he was immediately shifted to hospital for treatment where his condition is said to be stable.

The gunfight ended with the killing of third militant and government forces have left the encounter site.

As per some media reports, militants killed in the gunfight belong to Jaish-e-Mohammad militant outfit and have been identified as Operational Commander Abdul Rashid Ghazi alias Kamran of Pakistan, Farhad of Pakistan and one local militant, Hilal Ahmad Naiko of Pinglena Pulwama.

The local militant’s body has reportedly been handed over to his family for the last rites.