Shopkeeper shot dead, Rs 60 lakh cash looted

Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Nov 5: A shopkeeper was shot dead while as a Sumo driver was shot at by the gunmen in South Kashmir’s Pulwama district while two civilians were injured in a gun battle which erupted in Pampore area of South Kashmir where security forces trapped two militants this evening.

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The shopkeeper has been identified as Muhammad Ayoub Ahanger, son of Ghulam Ahmad Ahanger of Tral. He was fired upon by gunmen, resulting into serious injuries to him.
Soon after the incident, he was taken to a nearby hospital where doctors declared him dead. They said the area has been cordoned off to nab the attackers.
Meanwhile, a Sumo driver was also shot at by gunmen in Wanpora area of Kakapora belt in South Kashmir’ Pulwama district. He has been identified as Muhammad Aslam Wani, 30, of Wanpora, Pulwama.
Wani was taken to a nearby hospital where he is undergoing treatment. The area has been cordoned off to nab the attackers.
Two civilians were injured after militants fired upon security forces in Lalpora area of Pampore in South Kashmir’s Pulwama district during an operation in which two militants were trapped in the village.
Security forces including Army’s 50 RR, police and CRPF launched a joint operation in Lalpora area in Pampore after receiving specific inputs about the presence of militants there.
Militants fired upon the search party resulting in injuries to two persons. They were shifted to SDH Pampore, where condition of one of them is said to be critical while as the other who has received bullet injury in his leg is stable. The injured have been identified as Abid Nabi and Kifayat Ahmad, both residents of Pampore.
Abid Nabi has critical head injury and is undergoing treatment at SMHS hospital Srinagar while Kifayat Ahmad is undergoing treatment at Bone and Joint hospital Srinagar.
Security forces have established contact with the militants and operation is going on. The firing is going on at the encounter site intermittently. Lights have been installed and cordon layers have been tightened to ensure militants don’t flee.
An official said that at least two militants are trapped in the village.
Meanwhile, militants today looted Rs 60 lakh cash from an ATM van at main town in South Kashmir’s Shopian district.
At least four gunmen attacked J&K Bank van near Tak Mohalla Shopian and looted Rs 60 lakhs cash.
The area was immediately cordoned off to nab the attackers and recover the cash. A case (FIR number 309/2020) has been registered at Police Station Shopian.