Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, July 23: Over 20 persons were injured as security forces used force to disperse protesters during an anti-militancy operation in Khudwani area of South Kashmir’s Kulgam district today.
A joint operation was launched by Army’s 1 RR, Special Operations Group (SOG) of Jammu and Kashmir Police and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) in Lone mohalla area of Khudwani following inputs about the presence of militants. Youth took to streets and clashed with the security forces during the anti-militancy operation.
Security forces fired teargas and pellets to chase away the protesters who were trying to disrupt the search operation. In the incident, over 20 persons suffered injuries most of them with pellets and were taken to nearby Qoimoh hospital.
Among the injured, one minor boy Raqib Ahmad Wagay was hit by a tear gas shell in his head and was shifted to district hospital Anantnag where from he was referred to Srinagar for advanced treatment, they said.
A spontaneous shutdown was observed in Kulgam district including the Khudwani and its adjoining areas against the killings of three militants in an encounter in the district yesterday.
Three LeT militants, Suhail Ahmad Dar of Redwani Bala, Mudassir Ahmad alias Rehaan of Katrasoo and Abu Muawiya, a non-local, were killed in a gunfight with the forces at Wani Mohalla in Khudwani area of Kulgam yesterday morning. Police claimed that the trio was involved in the abduction and killing of a constable Mohd Saleem who was found dead on Saturday afternoon in Ghat area of Qoimoh.
Security forces also launched a Cordon-And-Search-Operation (CASO) in Herman village of South Kashmir’s Shopian district today.
Army personnel of 34 Rashtriya Rifles, Special Operations Group of Jammu and Kashmir Police and paramilitary Central Reserve Police Force laid a siege around the Herman village and started door to door searches following inputs about the presence of militants in the area. However, no one was arrested and militants had fled before the cordon was laid around the village.
In the meantime, a youth from Shopian district announced on social media his joining of the Al-Badr militant outfit.
Sheikh Waqar son of Mohammad Aslam of Malik Gund village in Shopian has joined militancy. His picture brandishing with a rifle has gone viral on social media. His code name as per the picture is Tepu Sultan. Waqar, who has done BSc and Lab Technician course was missing for last two weeks.
Regarding his picture going viral on social media, a police official said: “We are ascertaining the authenticity of the picture and are investigating it from all angles but it would be premature to conclude that the youth has joined the militant ranks.”
Meanwhile, the family said that their son had left home to go to Chandigarh for continuing his further studies. The family urged Waqar, the lone brother of three sisters, to return back. “It would be far better for him to return home and look after the family particularly his sisters”, they said.
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