Gas godown near Kulgam gunfight site catches fire

KULGAM — The encounter that raged between a joint team of security forces and militants yesterday in south Kashmir’s Kulgam district has led to the destruction of a gas godown situated in the vicinity of the encounter site.

Two militants identified as Muhammad Shafi Ganai of Batapora Kulgam and Muhammad Asif Wani of Takia Gopalpora Kulgam were killed in the said encounter at Awhatto village of the district.

Reports said that multiple explosions rocked the village after the gas godown caught fire due to an exchange of fire between the trapped militants and joint forces.

Srinagar-based Defence spokesperson said, “Due to the indiscriminate fire by the militants, the gas godown in the vicinity of the target house caught fire, leading to multiple explosions.”

He said that considering the safety of civilian life, the Indian Army and Jammu & Kashmir Police were pressed in service to douse the fire by use of water bowsers and foam sprinklers, simultaneously maintaining an impregnable cordon.

The spokesperson said that both the trapped militants were killed after contact was established when a cordon was laid around the hamlet on the basis of human information. He said the Army unit attempted to induce the surrender of the hiding militants by making repeated surrender calls to no avail.

During the encounter, a soldier and two civilians sustained injuries, but all are stable.