ShopianThe bloody encounter in South Kashmirs Pulwama district ended Tuesday morning after troops blasted five houses resulting in the death of last remaining militant who had engaged forces for 29 long hours.
At least 9 soldiers, including two Army officers were wounded during the operation. Five houses were blasted and raised to ground during 29 hours long gunfight.
The gunfight between trapped militants and the government forces had broken out in Bahmino village of South Kashmirs Pulwama district Monday morning. Two militants had been killed on Monday while the third militant kept on putting up resistance, moving from one house to another.
He quickly moved from one house to another dodging intense firing from the surrounding troops, police sources said. Troops were even firing mortar shells. It was only on Tuesday morning army managed to silence him after they demolished all the five houses by heavy shelling.
The militant has been identified as Muhammad Tayyib, a resident of Reasi district in Jammu region.
According to locals the exchange of fire between the militant and the government forces continued through the night. A large number of locals were on the roads throughout night clashing with the forces. Locals alleged that forces personnel ransacked houses and thrashed people during night hours.
They said that the village reverberated with gunshots and blast throughout night, creating panic in the area.
A police official said that the encounter ended at 10:30 of Tuesday morning and the bodies of all the three militants were recovered.
Shortly after the culmination of the gun fight, massive clashes erupted between protesters and government forces. Eyewitnesses and reports said that men, women and children were on the streets protesting and clashing with gun wielding forces.
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The protesters hurled rocks at the forces, who retaliated by firing tear smoke and PAVA shells. There was no immediate report of any injuries. Yesterday, over a dozen people were wounded while four of the protesters received bullet injuries. Reports said that tens of thousands of people were seen moving towards the native villages of two of the three slain militants to participate in their last rites.
The protesters tried to disrupt the operation. They tried to help militants escape from the area, however couldnt succeed, said a police official wishing anonymity.
The three militants killed in the encounter have been identified as Jahangir Ahmed Khan, a resident of Keller, Kifayat Ahmed Khandey of Bahmino village and third militant Muhammad Tayyib from Reasi.
The killing of the militants sparked spontaneous shutdown in South Kashmirs Pulwama district. Reports said that normal life came to a grinding halt in Pulwama and its adjacent areas including Tahab and Rajpora due to shutdown.
Reports said that at least 9 soldiers were injured during the gunfight. The injured included an army Major of 44 Rashtriya Rifles Rohit Shukla, Sepoy Bharat Singh, Junior Commissioned Officer 2nd Para, Gulkun Mahadev and Sub Inspector 183 Battalion Central Reserve Police Force Ashok Jholkar. (CNS)
The houses demolished in shelling belonged to Wagay brothers including Muhammad Yousuf, Abdul Rashid, Muhammad Ramzan, Abdul Salam and Ali Muhammad.