SRINAGAR Four militants, three of whom had joined Hizb-ul-Mujahideen this year, and a Para commando were killed in a gunfight in Nadigam area of South Kashmir’s Shopian district on Tuesday.
Officials said that four militants and one Para commando were killed while five soldiers were injured during the gunfight at Nadigam.
Police and (government) forces on a credible input about the presence of (militants) in Nadigam area of launched a cordon and search operation in the predawn hours (on Tuesday), a police spokesman said.
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As the search operation was going on, the search party was confronted with bullets fired by the hiding militants, he said.
The fire was retaliated leading to an encounter. In the initial exchange of fire one army (soldier) identified as HC Vijay of 23 Para sustained injuries and was evacuated to the hospital for medical treatment where he succumbed.
In the ensuing encounter, four militants were killed and the bodies were retrieved from the site of encounter, he said and identified them as Abid Nazir Chopan of Padarpora, Basharat Nengroo of Chotigam Shopian, Mehraj-ud-Din Najar of Drawni and Malik Zada Inam-ul-Haq of Mantujan Shopian.
They were affiliated with Hizbul Mujahideen militant oufit and were involved in attacks on government establishments, he said.
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Incriminating materials including huge quantity of arms and ammunition were recovered from the site of encounter. Police has registered a case and initiated investigation in the matter, he said, adding, Citizens are once again requested not to venture inside the encounter zone since such an area can prove dangerous due to stray explosive materials. People are requested to cooperate with police till the area is completely sanitized and cleared of all the explosives materials if any.
A police official said Abid joined militant ranks on 17 April, Anam joined on 23 May, Basharat joined on 1 August this year while as Mehraj had joined on 20 May last year. Mehraj was category B militant while All other were category C militants.
Meanwhile, multiple rounds of funerals were offered by thousands of people in native villages of the slain. The Authorities also sbnapped internet services in the district.
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Women Among 10 Civilians Injured In Clashes
Two women were among ten civilians injured in government forces action during clashes in parts of Shopian and Pulwama districts on Tuesday.
The clashes broke out soon after the news about the killing of four militants in a gunfight at Nadigam area of Shopian on Tuesday morning. One commando of 23 Para was also killed and five other soldiers injured during the gunfight.
Following the killing of the four militants, the people, mostly youth, took to streets at Nadigam and its adjoining areas.
The police and paramilitary forces deployed in the area used tear smoke shells and pellets apart from using live ammunition to disperse the protesters, resulting in injuries to eight people.
Among the injured, three persons, including two women, received bullets and have been identified as Sahil Farooq, Meena daughter of Mohammad Ahsan Shah and Rafia daughter of Ghulam Mohammad Bhat.
All the injured were taken to district hospital Shopian where from the bullet wounded trio were referred to Srinagar for specialized treatment.
Clashes were received from Muran Chowk and Rajpora areas of neighbouring Pulwama district. Two persons were reported injured in the clashes so far.
Earlier, the encounter broke out after the joint team of armys 23 Para, 34 RR, SOG and CRPF laid a cordon-and-search operation at Nadigam following inputs about the presence of some militants.
Soon after the gunfight, authorities snapped internet services in Pulwama and Shopian districts as part of established norms by the authorities in the state.
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