Locals protest after militant killed in J&K

Srinagar: One militant was reported killed in a gunfight raging in Chadoora area of Jammu and Kashmir’s central district of Budgam since Monday afternoon.

Initial reports claimed that three militants were killed in the attack, but only one body was retrieved from the encounter site.

However, the J&K police later clarified that only 1 militant has been killed. The killing of militant set off protests by locals in the area. The security forces fired live ammunition to quell the stone-pelting mobs, injuring, at least, two youth. They have received pellet injuries, said the hospital sources.

The J&K police’s counterinsurgency Special Operation Group (SOG) along with the Army’s 53 Rastriya Rifles and the CRPF had earlier around Noon on Monday laid siege to Zuhama area, about 7-km from the main town Chadoora, following receiving reports about the presence of militants.

On seeing the security forces, the militants moved into the house of one Ghulam Muhammad Hajam in Zuhama Batchnar hamlet and took positions.

“They were asked to surrender but they responded by opening fire, triggering the encounter,” said a police official. SSP Budgam Tejinder Singh said that one militant has been killed and his identity is being ascertained.