One Militant, Civilian killed in Pulwama, South Kashmir

Pulwama, Jan 20: A local militant was killed in an overnight gun battle with Indian troopers, triggering violent protest which left one civilian dead after government forces opened fire to disperse the protesters in South Kashmir’s Pulwama district.
The post encounter clashes according to sources not only left a protesters dead but at least 22 persons including a police officer suffered injuries. Four injured protesters have been admitted in SMHS hospital for advanced treatment.
Police sources told CNS that Government Agencies had inputs that Hizb Divisional Commander Reyaz Ahmed Naik along with his associates was present in Batapora Naina village. Shortly after receiving the information government forces including Army personnel from 55 Rashtriya Rifles cordoned off the village. During search operation militant present in the house of a local shopkeeper Abdul Salam fired upon the search party resulting in an 18 hour long gun battle.
Sources said that the gunbattle ended after the death of a Hizb militant Shakir Ahmed Bhat a resident of Brow Bandana, Awantipora while another militant reportedly managed to break the cordon. Eyewitnesses said that the killing of militant infuriated locals while protesters from Batapora and its adjoining areas including Dogripora, Begpora, Malangpora and Gulzarpora clashed with police and set an armoured vehicle on fire. Chanting pro-independence slogans, scores of youths hurled rocks at government forces. Violent clashes also led to suspension of Baramulla-Banihal train service. The violent clashes created panic in the area while government forces lobbed tear-smoke shells and resorted to firing to disperse the agitated protesters. Witnesses said that
forces opened fire following which one youth died and four others were injured. The deceased has been identified as Parvaiz Ahmad Guroo son of Ghulam Qadir a resident of Naina Pulwam. “Those injured have been shifted to SMHS hospital in Srinagar and they have been identified as Parvez Ilahi, Junaid Bashir Bhat, Farooq Yakub Dar and Asif Rashid Mir. The condition of Farooq Ahmed Dar is stated to be critical.
Reports said that thousands of mourners participated in the funeral procession of the slain militant and the civilian. Amid pro-freedom slogans the bodies of the militant and the civilian were laid to rest in their native villages.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of All Parties Hurriyet Conference (G), Syed Ali Gilani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, Agha Syed Hassan Al-Moosvi Al-Safvi, Muhamamd Yousuf Naqash Mukhtar Ahmad Waza, Zamruda Habib, Muhammad Rafiq Ganaie and others in their statements paid rich tributes to the slain youth. Syed Ali Gilani gave a call for strike in South Kashmir to show solidarity with the slain youth.
A police handout to CNS read that on Tuesday based on a specific information about the presence of terrorists in Naina, Pulwama police along with army and CRPF launched a cordon-search operation. During the operation, militants opened indiscriminate fire on the security forces which was retaliated. “During the ensuing encounter, more than 50 civilians who had got entrapped due to cross firing in a nearby mosque were rescued safely by the Pulwama police. In the gun battle, one dreaded militant of HM outfit got killed who was later identified as Shariq Ahmed Bhat of Brow Bandana, Awantipora.
“During the operation, a large number of protesters came towards operation site and pelted stones on the security forces. Security forces exercised maximum restraint and 17 security force personnel got injured – including Nazir Ahmed Ganai, DySP of 18 Bn. IRP who sustained multiple fractures in his leg. A police vehicle was also set ablaze by the protesters. During the uncontrolled protests, three protesters got firearm injuries, out of which, one Parvaiz Ahmed Guroo resident of Naina later succumbed to his injuries. The condition of other two rioters is said to be stable. Case FIR No. 10/16 and 11/16 stand registered in PS Pulwama and investigation is on.” (CNS)