Two militants, civilian killed in Kashmir encounter

Two militants, including top Hizb-ul-Mujahideen commander, Sameer Tiger were killed in an ongoing operation at Drabgam area of south Kashmir's Pulwama district on Monday.

A civilian was also killed in subsequent clashes between stone-pelting youth and security forces near the site of the gunfight, while over a dozen others were injured.

Deputy Inspector General of Police (South Kashmir Range) Amit Kumar confirmed the killing of two militants in the encounter. The slain militants have been identified as Sameer Bhat alias Tiger of Drabgam and Aqib Khan of Rajpora, both locals.

Earlier, the gunfight broke out after a joint team of the army, Special Operations Group (SOG) of the Jammu & Kashmir Police and the Central Reserve Police Force launched a cordon and search operation in Drabgam, Pulwama, 35 km from Srinagar.

“Two to three militants hiding in the area opened fire after a forces’ party closed in on them, triggering a gunfight. Two security personnel, including a major, were injured in the initial exchange of firing,” they sources said. The injured security personnel have been admitted to the army’s 92-Base Hospital in Srinagar.

Reports said soon after the gunfight, several youths pelted stones and tried to proceed towards the encounter site. The police and CRPF used tear smoke shells, pellet guns and fired shots to disperse them. In the incident, an 18-year-old youth, Ashraf Dar, died on the spot.

Over 10 protesters have also been injured during the clashes near the encounter site.

Sameer was the most wanted militant in the area and surfaced last year on social media with an US-made M4 carbine. The US armed forces extensively use the M4 carbine, which replaced the M16 rifle.

In wake of the encounter, authorities suspended mobile internet services in parts of south Kashmir as a “precautionary measure”.