At least nine persons including four soldiers, a cop, three militants and a civilian have been killed in an encounter at Pinglen area of South Kashmir’s Pulwama district. Six soldiers and DIG South Kashmir Range suffered injuries in the exchange of fire.
The casualties occurred just four days after a suicide attack killed at least 49 CRPF personnel at Lehtpora area of the same district.
A police official said that based on credible inputs about the presence of militants in Pinglena area of south Kashmir’s Pulwama district, a cordon and search operation was launched jointly by Police and security forces in the intervening night in the area.
“As the searches were going on, militants from inside the target house fired indiscriminately on the search party. In the initial burst of fire four army jawans and one civilian sustained critical gunshot injuries. They were evacuated to hospital for medical attention,” said police spokesman.
He said that four injured army soldiers and the civilian later on succumbed to their injuries. The deceased army men have been identified as Major Vibhuti Shankar Dhoundiyal, Hawaldar Sheo Ram, Sepoy Hari Singh and Sepoy Ajay Kumar,” he said.
“The fire was retaliated by the forces leading to an encounter. In the ensuing encounter so far 2 militants have been killed and their bodies were retrieved from the site of encounter. The identities and affiliations of the killed militants are being ascertained. The encounter is still in progress and the security forces are on the job,” he added.
A couple of houses were destroyed after they caught fire due to intense gunfight. A cop who was identified as Abdul Rashid was also killed in the encounter, said reports.
Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of police south Kashmir range Amit Kumar and a Brigadier were also injured in the exchange of fire.
Sources in the police said DIG south Kashmir Amit Kumar was injured after being hit by a bullet in his leg.
They said he was immediately shifted to hospital for treatment where his condition is said to be stable.
The gunfight was going on till the filing of this report.
