Pulwama witnesses terrible Thursday
Civilian killed in crossfire; shopkeeper killed, driver injured by suspected militants
Pampore: It was a terrible day for south Kashmir’s Pulwama district as two civilians got killed and two others injured in three violent incidents.
Two civilians were injured as security forces and militants exchanged fire during a cordon and search operation in Meej area of Lalpora Pampore, highly placed police sources said.
They said that in the initial spell of firing by hiding militants, two civilians got injured and one of them succumbed to his injuries whileas the other injured is being treated at a hospital.
While the identity of the slain civilian was not officially confirmed, some sources identified him as Abid Nabi while as the injured, who has been hit in his right leg, has been identified as Kifayat Bhat.
Police sources said that two JeM militants are trapped inside the cordon and Police is trying to convince them to surrender.
Block Medical Officer (BMO) Pampore, Gulzar Ahmad said that two persons—one with head injury and another with thigh injury were received at SDH Pampore and both were referred to Srinagar. “Abid Nabi with critical head injury is undergoing treatment at SMHS Srinagar while Kifayat Ahmad is undergoing treatment at Bone and Joint hospital Srinagar,” a health official said. Kashmir zone police on its official twitter handle said:
“During CASO at #Lalpora #Pampore, #Militants fired indiscriminately in which two unknown persons got injured. Search in the area is going on.” The police also tweeted that, “During search operation at Lalpora #Pampore, hiding militants have been tracked down by joint security forces. Encounter is going on.”
Operation was launched in the area by a joint team of forces that include the army’s 50 RR, police and CRPF, after receiving specific inputs about the presence of militants in the area. Meanwhile, a police officer said that firing is going on at the encounter site intermittently. Flash lights have been installed and cordon layers have been tightened to ensure militants don’t flee.
Meanwhile, a shopkeeper was shot dead while as a Tavera driver was shot at by the unknown militants on Thursday evening in South Kashmir’s Pulwama district, officials said.
Officials said that a shopkeeper, Muhammad Ayoub Ahanger, son of Ghulam Ahmad Ahanger of Tral, was fired upon by the unknown gunmen, resulting serious wounds to him.
Soon after the incident, he was rushed to a nearby hospital where doctors declared him dead on arrival. They said the area has been cordoned off to nab the attackers.
Meanwhile, a Tavera driver was also shot at by unknown gunmen in Wanpora area of Kakapora belt in South Kashmir’s Pulwama district, officials said.
The injured driver, who was on the wheel of the vehicle bearing registration number 9866 JK01Q was identified as Muhammad Aslam Wani (30) of Wanpora, Pulwama.
Wani was taken to nearby hospital where he is undergoing treatment, an official said, adding that the area has been cordoned off to nab the attackers.
Kashmir Images is an English language daily newspaper published from Srinagar (J&K), India. The newspaper is one of the largest circulated English dailies of Kashmir and its hard copies reach every nook and corner of Kashmir Valley besides Jammu and Ladakh region.
