Two civilians, Militant killed in south Kashmir

Srinagar, Feb 14 : Two civilians were killed and at least nineteen others were injured in alleged security forces’ firing in Lelhaar village in Pulwama district after clashes erupted during a brief encounter between security forces and militants in the area.
A militant, identified as Adil Ahmad Wagay of Banderpora, Pulwama, was killed in the encounter with security forces at Khanday Mohalla in Kakapora.
The youth has been identified as Danish Farooq Mir son of Farooq Ahmad Mir of Ratnipora, Pulwama, and the woman as Shaista Hameed daughter of Abdul Hameed of Lelhar village.
19-year-old Danish was studying electrical engineering at Islamic University of Science and Technology in Awantipora, while the 22-year-old Shaista was doing MA Urdu through distance mode.
Eyewitnesses said that the youth protested near the encounter site in Lelhar village and security forces resorted to indiscriminate firing of tear gas shells and bullets toward the protesters.
“We shifted Danish to Awantipora sub district hospital, where doctors referred him to Sub district hospital Pampore. But doctors declared him brought dead. He had bullets in his head and chest,” an eyewitness, who accompanied critically injured Danish to the hospital, told News agency over phone.
The woman was sitting on the veranda of her home when a bullet hit her, the witnesses said. She was shifted to District Hospital Pulwama where doctors declared her brought dead.
Doctors in District Hospital, Pulwama, told that five injured were brought to the hospital, among which the woman, Shaista, was declared was brought dead. “She had been hit by a bullet in her face,” the doctors in the hospital told .
“Of the four, one was referred to SHMS and three others were discharged after treatment,” they said.
The Sub district hospital authorities in Pampore told that fourteen injured were brought to the hospital, out of which Danish was brought dead to the hospital.
“The youth Danish was brought dead to the hospital; he had bullet injuries in the back of his neck. Two other injured had bullet injuries in their abdomen; they were referred to SMHS. Others have pellet injuries, out of which few were referred to Srinagar hospitals and rest of them were discharged after treatment,” BMO Pampore, Dr Showkat Ahmad told.
The injured were identified as Suhail Farooq, 18, of Lelhar. “Suhail has been referred to Bone and Joints Hospital as he has bullet injuries in both of his knees,” the doctors said. Rehan Ahmad Bhat of Pahoo, Imran Rashid of Lelhar, Shahid Ahmad Mir of Ratnipora have pellet injuries, while Bilal Kuchay of Hajibal has foot injury, the doctors said.
A police official told that the encounter started Sunday afternoon at Khanday Mohalla in Kakapora. The official said that two militants managed to escape, while Adil was killed while fleeing.
Inspector General of Police (IG) Kashmir Syed Javaid Mujtaba Gillani told news agency said the youth died due to a shell injury while the woman was hit by a bullet during a cross fire.