Fayaz Bukhari
SRINAGAR, Mar 28: A Hizbul Mujahideen militant was killed and a para-commondo was injured in a fierce gun battle in Chadoora area of Central Kashmir district of Budgam while three protesters were killed and 20 injured as security forces fired at stone pelting protesters during the operation.
Security forces cordoned off Doorbugh village of Chadoora this morning after they received information about the presence of militants in the village. As the searches were on, militants hiding in a house fired upon security forces leading to an encounter. The exchange of fire continued till this afternoon.
Security forces razed the house where militants were holed up by blasting it with IEDs. Later, body of one militant of Hizbul Mujahideeen was recovered from debris. He was identified as Tauseef Ahmad Wagay of Kanjijulla village of Yaripora in Kulgam district. Sources said that one militant managed to escape during massive stone-pelting.
As the gun battle broke, the locals gathered in and around the village and pelted stones on the security forces to assist militants in fleeing. Security forces intercepted the protesters and fired teargas and pellets, leading to clashes.
As the clashes turned intense, the security forces opened fire at protesters. In the firing, several civilians were hit and one of them identified as Zahid Rashid son of Ab Rashid Ganie received bullet injuries and was shifted to the hospital.
Zahid had bullet injury in his neck and was shifted to Srinagar hospital for treatment. But doctors at SMHS declared him as brought dead.
Panic gripped Jehangir Chowk area of city after police fired few tear smoke shells to disperse a group of people who were carrying body of Zahid. The group had taken body of the youth Zahid Rashid Ganie from the SMHS hospital. A group of people started marching towards the Chadoora-the native village of Zahid, after reaching Jehangir Chowk, police intercepted them and fired few tear smoke shells to disperse them.
While chasing the protesters, police took the body in their possession for legal medical formalities. The body was later handed over to his family at Chadoora. Police fired teargas on protesters outside SMHS Hospital at Kak Sarai.
Another youth identified as Saqib Ahmad who was admitted at SMHS succumbed to his injuries. Saqib was also hit by a bullet. Saqib was among 15 persons who were injured in the security forces firing during protests in Chadoora.
The clashes amid massive protests intensified at Chadoora and its adjoining areas soon after the news about the death of the civilians spread.
Amid clashes, another civilian identified as Ishfaq Ahmad of Rangreth area of Rawalpora in Srinagar was killed when he was shot by security forces. Although he was rushed to Srinagar’s SMHS Hospital but he was declared as brought dead.
The killing of third youth triggered protests at SMHS and scores of youth took body of the slain towards Nawab Bazar area of downtown Srinagar for funeral. As the funeral was started, police arrived on the spot and resorted to teargas shelling on mourners and took body in their possession.
Twenty civilians have been injured in day-long clashes at Chadoora area. The clashes and protests also erupted at Yaripora Kulgam, Rawalpora, Tral, Pulwama, Rangreth and other areas. Thousands of people attended the funeral prayers of three civilians in their respective areas amid massive anti-India protests.
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