Srinagar, May 29: At least 60 persons were injured, seven of them seriously in government forces action during clashes following a gunfight in Kulgam district of south Kashmir on Wednesday.
The government forces also called off the operation as militants have reportedly managed to escape.
The encounter ensued after a joint team of army’s 9 RR, SOG and CRPF launched a cordon-and-search operation at Tazipora area of Mahmoodpora following information about the presence of some militants.
As the joint team of forces was zeroing on a hideout, the militants hiding inside opened fire triggering off a gunfight at around 4:00 am.
Soon people took to streets and clashed with government forces following which the police and paramilitary forces resorted to teargas shelling pellets and live ammunition in which 60 persons suffered injuries.
The injured were shifted to PHC Mahmoodpora and 8 of them were taken to district hospital Kulgam for treatment.
CMO Kulgam, Dr Fazil Kochak told GNS that 60 injured persons were received at PHC Mohammedpora and conditions of 51 of them are stable and are being treated at the health facility itself.
Nine injured persons, he said have been shifted to district hospital Kulgam.
The nine injured have been identified as Nadeem Ahmad (pellet injury in left eye), Nawaz Ahmad (pellet injury in right eye), Adnan (pellet injury in left eye), Yawar Ahmad (bullet injury in abdomen), Mohsin Ahmad (pellet injury on body), Basit Ahmad (pellet injury on both arms), Aqib Nazir (pellet injury in left eye), Mudasir Bhat (Pellet injury in left eye) and Tawseef Ahmad (pellet injury in right eye).
When contacted Medical Superintendent District Hospital Kulgam Dr Muzafar Zargar also confirmed to GNS that nine injured persons have been received at the hospital.
He said that seven among the nine youth have been referred to SMHS Srinagar for advanced treatment. Those reffered include Nadeem, Nawaz, Adnan, Aqib, Mudasir, Tawseef and Yawar.
Two others namely Mohsin and Basit are being treated in the hospital.
Meanwhile, the government called off the operation after searches for several hours and no militant body was recovered, suggesting that the militants managed to escape.
