SWTATE TIMES NEWS
SRINAGAR: Militants on on Wednesday shot dead a youth and injured another, who were working as porters with the army, in Keran area of Kupwara district near the Line of Control in Kashmir, army said. “In a cowardly act, terrorists today opened fire on a group of local civilians engaged in daily labour in Keran Sector, North Kashmir resulting in the death of one local civilian while injuring another,” the army said in a statement. As the group of locals, employed as porters, was moving in the forward area of Keran Sector, militants hiding in thick jungles opened indiscriminate fire, instantly killing Shaukat Chauhan (25), the army said, adding another youth was seriously injured.
“Despite the poor weather, the injured, after being given first aid by an army doctor, was evacuated by helicopter to the army hospital in BB Cantt, Srinagar where his condition is stated to be stable,” the statement read. Army expresses its deep condolences on the death of Chauhan and stands in firm solidarity with his family in this hour of grief and loss, it said. The army is committed to extending all possible assistance to the bereaved family and in providing the best medical care to the injured person, the statement said. “Such acts are a clear indication of frustration of terror outfits who have now even started targeting innocent, unarmed locals who are earning their livelihood through honest hard work,” the army said.
Meanwhile, militants fired at a security picket guarding a minority village in Shopian district of Kashmir, a police official said on Wednesday.
“Militants opened fire on a security picket at Zainapora in Shopian last night around 9.30 PM,” the police official said. No damage was reported in the incident.
In another incident, a vehicle of the security wing of the police was damaged when it caught fire last night at Kursoo in Rajbagh area of the city, the official said. He said the vehicle was deployed for the security escort of state health minister Bali Baghat. The vehicle was stationary when the incident took place. The official said the cause of the fire is being ascertained.
