STATE TIMES NEWS
Srinagar: Three civilians were killed in security forces’ action against protestors near an encounter site in Budgam district in Kashmir during an anti-militancy operation which ended with the killing of the lone militant.
“One terrorist has been killed and a weapon has been recovered from the scene of the encounter,” an army official said.
The encounter has ended, a police official said adding that one para trooper also sustained injuries.
Three civilians — all young men in their twenties — were killed while 18 others were injured in security forces’ action against a large number of protestors who pelted stones on the law enforcing personnel allegedly in a vain bid to help the holed up terrorist escape.
Today evening, two terrorists barged into the house of Mohd Ayub Mattoo (father of SP (Ops) Bandipora – Dawood Mattoo) in Khudwani area falling under the jurisdiction of Police Station Kulgam and ransacked the house. They also fired two to three rounds in air before fleeing.
Security forces launched a cordon and search operation in Durbugh area of Chadoora in the early hours today following information about the presence of militants in the area, the police official said. He said the search operation turned into a gunbattle after the militant opened firing on security forces.
The slain civilians have been identified as Zahid Dar, Saqib Ahmad and Ishfaq Ahmad Wani.
All of them had firearm injuries, the official said.
Clashes between protestors and security forces were going on till reports last came in, he added.
The trend of civilians assembling near encounter sites and engaging security forces in clashes emerged last year.
It has continued even after Army Chief Bipin Rawat warned the youth against interfering in anti-militancy operations and the state administration imposing Section 144 within three kilometre radius of the encounter site.
Separatists call for strike
Srinagar: Separatists in Kashmir have called for a general strike on Wednesday against the killing of three civilians during protests near an encounter site in Budgam district and sought an impartial inquiry into the incident.
“There should be a complete strike tomorrow and peaceful protests after Friday prayers against the incident,” chairmen of both factions of Hurriyat Conference, Syed Ali Shah Geelani and Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, and JKLF chairman Mohammad Yasin Malik said in a joint statement here.
Two youth were killed when security forces, engaged in an encounter with militants at Durbugh village of Chadoora, opened fire to chase away protesters attempting to break the cordon around a house where militants had taken shelter.
The separatists alleged that the Chadoora incident was the outcome of the Army Chief General Bipin Rawat’s statement warning local youth against creating hurdles during anti-militancy operations early this year.
SRINAGAR: Kashmir University, Islamic University of Science and Technology (IUST) Awantipora and Central University of Kashmir (CUK) have postponed all examinations scheduled for Wednesday.
“All Kashmir University examinations scheduled to be held on March 29, 2017 (Wednesday) are postponed. Fresh dates for the deferred examinations shall be notified separately, later,” said a KU spokesman.
“It is notified for the information of all the concerned that the examinations scheduled for tomorrow at Islamic University of Science and Technology have been postponed. New dates will be notified separately,” said IUST spokesman.
Meanwhile, an official spokesperson said in view of the prevailing unrest in the Valley, the railway services will remain suspended tomorrow in valley.
