Non-local labourer killed in Pulwama shootout

A non-local labourer, who was critically injured in a shootout between militants and security forces in Hajidarpora village of south Kashmir's Pulwama district on Wednesday morning, succumbed to injuries.

Police said 17-year-old Arjun Kumar, a resident of Baraily, Pilibhit in Uttar Pradesh, received a fatal bullet injury when militants attacked the army's 55 Rashtriya Rifles (RR) patrolling party in Hajidarpora, Pulwama, 34 km from here.

Kumar was shifted to the super-speciality SKIMS hospital in Srinagar, but he succumbed to his injuries, the police added.

The slain was working as a labourer at a brick kiln in the district.

Following the attack, security forces along with the additional reinforcements launched searches in the area to nab the attackers.

In the backdrop of increasing incidents of attacks on police and political workers, security forces had Monday launched a major coordinated offensive against militants in nearly 20 villages of Pulwama district.

According to a report compiled by the Jammu and Kashmir Police, the number of listed militants in Kashmir has crossed 300 for the first time in nearly a decade.

Last year, 126 locals picked up guns - which was the highest number since 2010 and this year till August over 130 have joined the militant ranks, the report reveals.

Of the listed 327 militants, it says, 181 are active in the volatile south Kashmir districts. “Most of the locals joining militancy belong to four south Kashmir districts of Shopian, Pulwama, Kulgam and Anantnag. The militant handlers are using social media to reach out the Internet-savvy youth of the Valley with their ‘jihad obligation’ message,” a senior police officer said.