Kulgam Encounter: Three Jaish Militants, DSP Operations, Soldier Killed; Army Major Among 3 Soldiers Injured

Clashes near gunfight site, several youth injured in forces action; Internet snapped

Kulgam: Three militants, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Operations and an army man were killed and three soldiers including a Major were injured in an encounter at Turigam area of South Kashmir’s Kulgam district on Sunday afternoon.

A police officer told GNS that the DSP Operations Aman Thakur received critical bullet wounds in his head during the encounter and was immediately taken to a nearby hospital where doctors declared him brought dead on arrival.

An army officer of Major rank along with three other soldiers also sustained bullet wounds and were hospitalized.

One among the injured soldiers of Hawaldar rank later succumbed to injuries in a military hospital here, he said.

He said that all the three holed up militants were later killed and their bodies were also retrieved from the site. “The militants were affiliated with Jaish-e-Mohammad outfit”.

The officer said that among the three slain militants two are believed to be locals and the third one is said to be a foreigner.

A residential house where the militants were hiding belonged to Sonaullah Mir was razed to rubble.

Earlier, a joint team of army’s 34 RR, CRPF and SOG launched cordon and search operation in Turigam village, he said.

The cordon was laid in the area following credible inputs about the presence of some Jaish-e- Mohammad militants in the area he said.

Meanwhile, locals most of them youth took to streets and clashed with forces. The forces used tear smoke shells, pellets and live ammunition to disperse the protesters resulting in injuries to several persons.

The injured were taken to a nearby hospital for treatment.

Meanwhile, three youths suffered bullet injuries in forces action. The injured have been identified as Adil Ahmad son of Javaid Ahmad of Tarigam, Kulgam received a bullet injury in his right arm, Sheikh Nadeem of Dessan Yaripora received a bullet in his right hand and Mudasir Ahmad Sheikh received bullet wound in his shoulder. Adil was brought to SMHS hospital while as Nadeem and Mudasir were referred to SKIMS Soura from Kulgam hospital. Two others who sustained pellet injuries in the forces action were shifted to District Hospital Kulgam for treatment.

In wake of the gunfight, authorities have snapped internet services in the district. (GNS)