Kupwara: A 57-year-old man was killed after forces fired upon a group of protestors demanding handing over of the bodies of three militants killed in a pre-dawn fidayeen attack that left three soldiers dead including a captian.
According to the reports, at least four heavily armed militants stormed an Army camp at Panzgam Chowkibal area of North Kashmirs Kupwara district during wee hours killing three army men, including a Captain, while injuring six others. Two militants were also killed during the gunfight. The injured soldiers have been shifted to Badamibagh based Army hospital.
According to the police sources, militants resorted to indiscriminate firing resulting in the injuries of at least 9 soldiers among which three including Captain Ayush Yadu, Subedar Bhup Singh and Naik Veer Raman succumbed to their injuries while rest of the wounded soldiers were shifted to Srinagar Army hospital for further treatment. Reports said that one of the injured soldiers Giresh Chandra is in critical condition. The other wounded soldiers have been identified as Shindey Predesh, Rushi Kumar, Ramesh Bee, Desai Mukesh Kumar and V.B. Reddy.
Reports said that shortly after storming garrison, militants used guns and grenades to target soldiers.
Confirming the incident, Srinagar based Defence Spokesperson Colonel Rajesh Kalia said that besides, 3 soldiers, two militants were also killed in the attack. He said that search operation was launched to find out if any more militant managed to sneak inside the garrison.
The army cordoned off the entire area including a nearby forest area while bodies of two militants were retrieved from the spot, said a police official.
Defence source said that militants were believed to be four in number. Two militants were neutralized while two managed to escape from the spot. Massive search operation in forest area has been launched to track them down, said an official.
Another official said that the presence of at least another militant is suspected, since three AK-47 rifles were recovered from the spot. A manhunt in the area is on for the militant, who is suspected to be injured. Nine magazines, hand grenades, a matrix sheet and a smart phone were recovered from the spot.
Meanwhile, shortly after the culmination of the gunfight, locals gathered and held protests, throwing stones at government forces as they demanded the bodies of the two militants.
Eyewitnesses said that government forces reportedly fired upon the protesters killing a middle aged man whom police identified as Muhammad Yousuf.
57-year-old Muhammad Yousuf received a bullet in his neck and he was declared dead-on-arrival at the hospital. Many protesters were also wounded. The killing of the civilian sparked off massive protests while large contingent of Army and other forces personnel were deployed to maintain law and order.
Witnesses said that Yousuf received a bullet in his neck and was declared dead-on-arrival at the hospital. Many protesters were also wounded. The killing of the civilian sparked off massive protests while large contingent of Army and other forces personnel were deployed to maintain law and order.
Mehbooba Pays Tributes To Slain Soldiers
Chief Minister, Mehbooba Mufti has paid rich tributes to the officer and two jawans of the army who were killed in an encounter early morning today at Kupwara.
The Chief Minister has extended her heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families of slain soldiers. She has also expressed anguish over the death of a person in protests during the day in the area.
In a statement, Mehbooba Mufti said that an unending cycle of violence has got unleashed in our society which is devouring it and pushing Kashmir towards darkness.
Hizb Tributes Slain Militants
Militant outfit Hizbul Mujahideen Thursday paid rich tribute to the militants killed in Panzgam Chowkibal after they stormed an army garrison.
In a statement to local news agency CNS, Syed Salahuddin said that it is the sheer frustration of Modi and Mufti to target female students in Kashmir and raid the houses of female resistance leaders.
Women have played a key role in Kashmir Freedom Struggle. Despite being woman, Mehbooba Mufti in order to appease Narendra Modi has been killing, maiming and blinding students and targeting women leaders. The raid on the house of Asiya Andrabi indicates that puppet government is on the verge of extinction, he said.
He said that Mehbooba Mufti is crossing all limits to save her chair. The measures she has been taking to crush the sentiments have no place in the civilized world, he said.
Expressing surprise over the statement made by Lieutenant General J.S.Sandhu that civilians will be protected during encounters, the Hizb Chief said that it seems Indian army chief General Bipin Rawat has taken his order back wherein he had threatened to kill people. Salahuddin reiterated that struggle will continue till it is taken to its logical conclusion.
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