Three youth were killed on Tuesday and 18 others were injured as security forces clashed with stone- pelters trying to disrupt an anti-militancy operation which ended with the killing of a militant in Budgam district of Kashmir.
Three youth were killed on Tuesday and 18 others were injured as security forces clashed with stone- pelters trying to disrupt an anti-militancy operation which ended with the killing of a militant in Budgam district of Kashmir.
The killing of the civilians was described as "highly painful" by Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti who urged restraint from all sides while opposition National Conference leader Farooq Abdullah said the incident reflects the "alarming situation" in the valley.
Separatists in Kashmir called for a general strike on Wednesday against the killing of three civilians and sought an impartial inquiry into the incident.
Security forces had launched a cordon-and- search operation in Durbugh area of Chadoora village following information about the presence of militants in the area, a police official said. He said the search operation turned into a gunbattle after the hiding militant fired at the security forces.
As the gunbattle was underway, scores of people gathered at the site and resorted to stone-pelting, leading to clashes with the security forces.
The day-long clashes left three civilians -- all young men in their 20s -- dead while 18 others were injured, the police official said. The slain civilians were identified as Zahid Dar, Saqib Ahmad and Ishfaq Ahmad Wani. All of them had firearm injuries, the official said.
Clashes between protestors and security forces were going on till reports last came in, he added.
Meanwhile, the encounter continued and the lone militant was gunned down by the evening.
"One militant has been killed and a weapon has been recovered from the scene of the encounter," an army official said.
A police official said one para trooper also sustained injuries in the encounter. Commenting on the deaths, Mehbooba said, "It is highly painful to see the young boys losing their lives." She termed the killings as highly unfortunate and said the people in Kashmir continue to suffer massive collateral damage due to violence of past three decades or so.
Violence has given people of the state innumerable miseries, she said, adding that it is high time that peaceful means are given a chance for the resolution of issues.
Abdullah, who is contesting the upcoming bypolls from Srinagar Lok Sabha seat, said, "The unfortunate tragedy in Chadoora and all such incidents indicate how alarming the situation has become."
The trend of civilians assembling near the encounter sites and engaging security forces in clashes emerged last year.
(With agency inputs)
1. Indian Army prepares to battle suspected militants
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Indian army soldiers arrive at the site of a gunbattle with suspected militants in Chadoora, on the outskirts of Srinagar.
Image source: Reuters
2. Stone pelting civilians versus Indian Army
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A group of youth pelting stones on security forces during an anti-militant operation at village Durbugh in Chadoora area of central Kashmir's Budgam district on Tuesday. One militant and three civilians were killed in the operation.
Image courtesy: PTI
3. Chadoora, Srinagar
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A group of youth pelting stones on security forces during an anti-militant operation at village Durbugh in Chadoora area of central Kashmir''s Budgam district on Tuesday.
Image courtesy: PTI
4. Chadoora, Srinagar
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Security personnel engaged in a gunbattle with a militant who was holed up in a house at village Durbugh in Chadoora
Image courtesy: PTI
5. Indian Army takes aim
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Indian army soldiers watch an explosion in a residential house during clashes between suspected rebels and Indian government forces in Chadoora, in Badgam district south of Srinagar, on March 28, 2017.Two civilians and one rebel were killed and at least 14 people injured March 28 in clashes between protesters and troops and police in Indian-administered Kashmir, police said.
Image courtesy: AFP
6. Chadoora, Srinagar
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Clouds of smoke and dust billow as a residential house is blown up during a gunbattle between Indian soldiers and suspected militants in Chadoora, on the outskirts of Srinagar.
Image courtesy: AFP
7. Durbudh, Chadoora
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Fire engulfs the house which was blasted off by the security personnel to eliminate a holed up militant during an encounter at village Durbugh in Chadoora area of central Kashmir's Budgam district on Tuesday.
Image courtesy: PTI
8. Local Protestors
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Local protesters try to disrupt an anti-militant operation at village Durbugh in Chadoora area of central Kashmir's Budgam district on Tuesday.
Image courtesy: PTI
9. Chadoora, Srinagar
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Kashmiri protestors run after Indian security personnel used live ammunition near the site of a gun battle between suspected rebels and Indian soldiers in Chadoora, in the Badgam district of Srinagar, on March 28, 2017.Two civilians and one rebel were killed and at least 14 people injured March 28 in clashes between protesters and troops and police in Indian-administered Kashmir, police said.
Image courtesy: AFP
10. Civilians injured
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An civilian injured during an encounter at Chadoora Budgam in Srinagar on Tuesday. Two civilians and one militant were killed and thirty others were injured during the ongoing encounter.
Image courtesy: PTI
