5 dead as violence revisits Kashmir

SRINAGAR: Kashmir’s date with unabated violence continued as five people including an army captain and a student lost their lives in different incidents on Saturday. A major tragedy was averted in Doda where army and police recovered a 52-kg RDX consignment.

A 12-year-old student was killed when he was fired at by security forces at Palhallan in north Kashmir area of Pattan. Inspector general of CRPF, north Kashmir range, SK Singh said a group of militants attacked the cavalcade of BSF DIG NC Bhat at Palhallan, Pattan when he was going to his headquarters from Srinagar.

"The shots hit the bullet-proof vehicle of the DIG, but didn’t penetrate it. In the retaliatory action, one woman was shot. A civilian who sustained injuries, later succumbed to his wounds,” he said. As the news of the civilian's death reached the neighbouring villages, the people came out on streets to protest the killing.

Earlier in the day, militants lobbed a grenade at Dashnami Akaraha building at Budshah Chowk here killing one civilian and injuring 10 others including a CRPF Jawan. Deputy inspector general of police, central Kashmir range, Farooq Ahmad said, "Eleven people suffered injuries. They were rushed to hospital where one was declared dead on arrival.” In a separate incident, two militants and an army captain were killed in an encounter at Pulwama. "We also lost a captain identified as SB Singh in the gunfight,” Col Junojo said.