Woman killed in Kashmir encounter

A police spokesman said a heavily armed group of militants visited a house at Padlu area, in the upper reaches of Handwara, during Saturday night and demanded food from the inmates. The militants asked villagers to guide them towards adjoining Brinjal and Ghalali areas, which the latter resisted and refused.

“Angry with their reaction, the militants stayed in the house and asked the inmates for food for Sunday night also. After having food, the militants left the house,” the spokesman added. The militants were later intercepted by the Army. The militants  started running away towards the house and began indiscriminate firing, which led to an encounter.

“In the exchange of firing, two civilians, Saleema, wife of Abdul Rashid Paswal, and Abdul Rashid Paswal, son of Jamal Din, received bullet injuries. The injured woman was referred to a Srinagar hospital, where she succumbed to her injuries. Her body was handed over to her kins on Monday. Other civilians were rescued from the area. The encounter was still going on when the reports last came in,” police said.