Two security personnel including a jawan of 44 RR and a cop were also injured during the encounter
Tension gripped south Kashmir on Tuesday after two top Jaish-e-Mohammad terrorists were killed in an encounter in an overnight operation and a 24-year-old woman died in the cross-fire in Bata Murran village of Shopian district.
Locals alleged that Ruby aka Beauty Jan was hit by a bullet during the clashes. Police, however, claimed that she was killed in a cross-fire.
Acting on specific inputs, Shopian Police along with 44 Rashtriya Riffles and 14th battalion of CRPF cordoned off a cluster of houses at village Bata Murran Shopian.
"While the cordon was being laid, terrorists fired upon the joint search party, ensuing an encounter. The cordon was strengthened and the civilians of nearby area were evacuated," a police spokesperson said.
Two security personnel including a jawan of 44 RR and a cop were also injured during the encounter. Police said their condition is stated to be stable.
"During the cross-fire one lady identified as Ruby alias Beauty got critically injured. She later succumbed to the wound at Pulwama district hospital. Nine civilians were also injured," a police spokesperson said.
Police had to use force to disperse the mob as clashes rocked the area after the encounter. Police said nine people were injured in the clashes.
Ruby is the third civilian to have died in the last week. A 25-year old mother of an eight month old girl was allegedly killed in the crossfire between ultras and forces on December 11. Massive protests rocked Kupwara after a 28 year old taxi driver Asif Iqbal was shot dead on Saturday night at Thindipora village.
Police said during the encounter, on the request of family, made repeated announcement to persuade Tanveer Ahmad, a local ultra to surrender.
"The terrorists continued firing on the security forces which was retaliated. Two JeM terrorists were killed in this encounter who were identified as Tanveer Ahmad from Bata Murran Shopian and Ali alias Qari, a foreign terrorist. Two AK rifles and other allied ammunition were recovered from the encounter site", the spokesman said.
"Moreover, another terrorist fled from the encounter site by taking advantage of the darkness", said the spokesman.
Police said the slain militants were involved in a number of terror incidents including the December 11 attack on the vehicle of J&K Bank near Poju Shopian in which two bank guards were killed.
Meanwhile, Joint Resistance Leadership of separatists has called for a shutdown on Wednesday against the killing of three civilians during security force operations in the last one week.
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