A militant was killed in an encounter while two civilians lost their lives in security forces' action against stone-pelting protestors in the Chadoora area of Budgam district in Kashmir.
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti on Tuesday asked local militants, who want to return to the mainstream, to give up their arms as nothing can be achieved through violence.
"Today an encounter is going on at Chadoora... We made efforts to tell the lad to lay his arms and come back (to the mainstream). Violence will not yield anything," she said addressing an election rally in south Kashmir. Mehbooba said violence has only led to death and destruction in Jammu and Kashmir over the years.
"The graveyards are getting filled up and the cremation grounds too. Violence has only led to death, be it militants, policemen or armymen. Violence is not a solution to any issue... only peace and dialogue can lead to a solution," she added.
The Chief Minister said she has already instructed the security agencies to try to get the local militants to surrender even during encounter situations.
A militant was killed in an encounter while two civilians lost their lives in security forces' action against stone-pelting protestors in the Chadoora area of central Kashmir's Budgam district. "One militant has been killed and a weapon has been recovered from the scene of the encounter," an army official said. The operation is still on, he added.
Security forces had launched a cordon and search operation in Durbugh area of Chadoora early Tuesday following information about the presence of militants, a police official said. The search operation turned into a gunbattle after militants opened fire on the security forces, he added.
As the security forces exchanged fire with the holed up militants, a large number of protestors started pelting stones at the law enforcing agencies, the official said. He said around 19 persons were injured in the security forces' action against the protestors. Two youth -- Zahid Dar and Saqib Ahmad -- later succumbed to injuries.
Clashes between protestors and security forces were also going on till reports last came in, he added
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