5 civilians killed in clashes with security forces in Kashmir

SRINAGAR, Indian-controlled Kashmir, May 6 (Xinhua) – Five militants and five civilians were killed Sunday in a fierce gunfight and subsequent clashes in restive Indian-controlled Kashmir, police said.

Bhatt joined militancy a few days ago and was meeting Padder when the security forces launched the operation.

Terrorists also shot dead a civilian Mohammad Ashraf Mir and critically injured his wife in the Sopore town in North Kashmir.

The Jammu & Kashmir director general of police, Shesh Paul Vaid, confirmed Paddar and Bhat’s killing, and identified the other three militants killed as Tauseef Sheikh, Bilal Mohund and Adil Malik. He congratulated the Army, CRPF, and J&K Police for the operation.

Over a dozen protesters have been injured during clashes near the encounter site.

IGP SP Pani told GNS that efforts were made to persuade militants to surrender but they refused. Rafi Bhatt was a Professor of Kashmir University, and to call him, the security forces called his family to the spot so that he could be brought in front.

In 2018, till date over 126 people, including 31 civilians, 63 militants, three political workers and 29 police, Army and paramilitary personnel have been killed. Earlier, Asif Ahmad of Rohmou village of Pulwama died in a Srinagar hospital due to injuries suffered in the clashes.

The slain professor belonged to Chunduna village of Ganderbal district.

Authorities have suspended mobile internet services across south Kashmir.

Security forces killed four civilians in a village in Kashmir in April when they opened fire on protesters pelting them with stones to stop an operation against militants, police officials said. The duo, having survived for many years, despite frequent encounters, were emerging as “influential motivators and new leaders” among the militant ranks. He said the identities of the slain terrorists were being ascertained. They were trying to distract the soldiers who apart from guns and grenades also used explosives to blast the house where the rebels were cornered, residents and police said.