2 youths killed in firing on stone-pelters; 1 militant slain in encounter

Two youths, including a girl, were killed today in firing allegedly by security forces on a crowd that was holding a protest over an encounter in Pulwama district of south Kashmir in which an unidentified militant was gunned down.

Three persons were also injured in the firing, police said. The two youths killed were identified as Danish and Shahista, a police official said, adding that a crowd of protesters started pelting stones at security forces at Lillhar in the Kakapora area near the encounter site.

Earlier, one militant was killed in the encounter in Pulwama. "An encounter broke out in Kakapora after a cordon and search operation was launched in the area," an army official said.

An unidentified militant was killed in the exchange of fire between the two sides, the official said, adding that further details are awaited.