Gunfight: Militant killed, two soldiers, cop injured in Pulwama

PULWAMA — A militant was killed while two soldiers and an SOG man sustained bullet injuries in a fierce exchange of bullets between Combined Forces and trapped militants in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district this morning. The gunfight broke out in Gusoo village.

Police sources said that gunfight broke out when Combined Forces cordoned off the area and as they zeroed in on the house of a villager Abdul Rashid Dar, where militants were allegedly present, militants fired on the search party. In the exchange of fire, two soldiers and an SOG man suffered bullet wounds.

Police sources identified the injured policeman as Constable Ashiq Mehmood of Rajouri who has a gunshot wound in the neck and has been shifted to 92 Base Army Hospital at Badami Bagh Srinagar. The condition of the cop, according to sources, is critical. Ashiq is posted at SOG Camp Pulwama.

Two soldiers from 53 Rashtriya Rifles have also sustained injuries, among them the condition of Naik Ragvinder Singh is serious while another soldier Naik Kishori Lal has also been hospitalized.

Sources said an unidentified militant has been killed in the exchange of gunfire.

Sources said Combined Forces had inputs about the presence of two to three militants. Sources added that a militant identified as Arshid Ahmed Dar who had joined militant ranks on July 04 this month was also believed to be trapped.

Sources added that the operation was called off after militants managed to escape from the spot.

During the encounter, clashes erupted in Chewa Kalan village in which some youth were injured. A youth suffered pellet injuries and was shifted to hospital for treatment.

A police official said that the slain militant is still unidentified.

Meanwhile, in village Lelhar Kakapora, a rumour spread that the slain militant is Azad Ahmad Lone, a native. People came out in large numbers there. Lone is an active militant since March 19 this year.