3 militants, 1 civilian killed in Srinagar encounter

Three Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) militants were killed in an encounter with security forces at Chattabal area of Srinagar on Saturday while a youth died after a security forces vehicle ran over him in nearby Safa Kadal area during subsequent clashes.

A Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) officer was also injured in a gunfight which erupted after the special operations group of the state police and CRPF personnel launched a cordon-and-search-operation (CASO) at congested Gasi Mohalla in Chattabal following a tip-off about the presence of militants in the area.

“As the security forces tightened the cordon, the holed-up militants fired at them triggering a gunfight,” a police officer said and added that an assistant commandant of the CRPF was injured in the initial exchange.

Inspector General Police (Kashmir), Swayam Prakash Pani, said that three militants were killed in the operation and their identity and group affiliation is being ascertained. “By appearance, the trio seem to be foreigners but still we are ascertaining their identities,” he said.

DGP Shesh Pal Vaid said the Chattabal encounter has concluded. “Three bodies of terrorists recovered in a clean operation by J&K Police & CRPF. Well done boys,” he tweeted.

Soon after the encounter, the youth took to the streets and clashed with the police and CRPF at Noor Bagh, Malik Sahib Safa Kadal, Cement Kadal and near Chattabal. A civilian was killed at Noorbagh after a police vehicle allegedly ran over him during clashes near Cement Kadal in Safa Kadal – the area adjoining the site of encounter.

Police said that the civilian was killed after being hit by one of their vehicles while the locals allege that the youth Adil Yadoo was injured critically after the SOG vehicle ran over him near Cement Kadal.

The authorities suspended internet in entire Srinagar district as soon as the gunfight broke out to prevent “spreading of rumours” on social media, said an official.

Meanwhile, militants shot dead a Special Police Officer (SPO) near a filling station in Rahmoo area of south Kashmir’s volatile Pulwama district. Earlier, militants killed two civilians in Shahgund area of Hajin in north Bandipora district.

The police said that militants abducted 45-year-old Ghulam Hassan Dar and his 26-year-old nephew Bashir Dar from their homes at Gulshan Mohalla of Hajin during the intervening night of May 4 and 5.

“The terrorists barged into the house of Dar and that of his nephew and abducted both of them. At about 3.30 am today (Saturday) the terrorists shot both of them dead,” a police spokesperson said
He said the bullet-riddled bodies of the victims were found by the locals near a masjid in the area.