Militants flee at Kulgam, trapped in Shopian
Fayaz Bukhari
Srinagar, May 29: A civilian was killed and over 65 injured as massive clashes broke out in Shopian and Kulgam districts of South Kashmir today during two separate gun battles as protesters tried to disrupt the operations against militants.
A joint operation was launched by Army’s 44 RR, SOG and CRPF at Gugloora area of Pinjura in district Shopian this afternoon. Soon after the cordon, the clashes ensued as youth pelted stones on security forces to disrupt the operation.
The joint team of police, CRPF and Army used tear smoke shells, pellets and live ammunition to disperse the protesters, resulting in injuries to at least 25 youth, three of them with bullet wounds and 20 with pellet injuries. Click here to watch video
A protester Sajad Ahmad Parray son of Ali Mohammad Parray of Buderhama was hit by bullets and he was rushed to Shopian district hospital for treatment. He was referred to Srinagar for treatment but succumbed on the way.
Two more protesters -Mohammad Shafi Malik son of Ghulam Mohammad Malik of Gugloora Pinjoora and Showkat Malik son of Ghulam Mohidin of the same village were also hit by bullets in right leg and foot respectively. Both of them have been referred to Srinagar for treatment.
A soldier identified as Sepoy Mahesh (Belt number 16121670N) of 44 RR of Army was also injured in encounter and he was rushed to 92 Base Hospital in Srinagar’s Badami Bagh Cantonment.
The operation was going on and the troops are conducted searches of the encounter site and till late in the night no dead body was recovered.
Clashes also broke out in Kulgam district of South Kashmir during a gun battle and two militants who were trapped managed to escape.
Clashes broke out between protesting youth and security forces in Muhammad Pora area of South Kashmir’s Kulgam district today after security forces trapped two militants in a house in the village.
Security forces cordoned of Muhammad Pora village in Kulgam district after inputs about presence of militants hiding in the village.
The militants were trapped in a house and during searches they fired on troops leading to a gun battle. It continued for several hours during which the house in which they were trapped was raised to rubble. The militants, however, managed to escape during the clashes.
The residents of the village and adjoining areas pelted stones on the troops leading to intense clashes during which security forces fired teargas and pellets on the protesters. At least 40 protesters were injured in the clashes.
Over 40 persons were hospitalized and atleast one dozen were referred to District hospital Kulgam for the treatment. Some of the injured were referred to Srinagar for treatment, one among them had received bullet injury.
And a militant of Jaish-e-Mohammad who was today trapped by security forces in a village surrendered.
Police said that acting on the specific information regarding the presence of militants in the Chopan Mohalla of village Nagpathri Tral, search was carried out by police along with 42RR and 180 batallion of CRPF.
During search, presence of JeM militant was noticed in the house of one Mohammad Akram Chopan son of Ghulam Qadir Chopan. The militant identified as Mohammad Maqbool Ganie son of Mohammad Ganie of Gutango Tral was hiding inside the house and he had recently joined JeM.
Troops asked him to surrender but he refused. He was given time and security forces waited for four hours. He was finally persuaded to surrender. One Chinese pistol, one pistol magazine and 6 rounds of ammunition were recovered from his possession.
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