Three terrorists, including a former soldier, 2 youth killed in encounter in J&K’s Pulwama

Pic Courtesy: ANI

At least three terrorists were on Saturday killed in an encounter in Kharpora Sirnoo area of Pulwama district in Jammu and Kashmir. The three neutralised terrorists belonged to terror group Hizbul Mujahideen. According to news agency IANS, two youth also got killed in the incident.

As the encounter began, the terrorists were trapped in an open area. Two Army men also suffered injuries during the gunbattle.

The operation was conducted by joint team of Jammu and Kashmir Police, Indian Army and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel.

One of the terrorists, Zahoor Ahmed Thokar, was earlier a soldier in the Indian Army. He fled from an Army camp with an AK-47 last year. Sirnoo is the native village of the slain terrorist.

There were also reports of stone pelting in the area as the encounter took place. The forces had to resort to tear-gas shelling to disperse the protesters.

News agency IANS reported that two youth, identified as Amir Ahmad and Abid Hussain, sustained gun shot injuries in the clashes which erupted at the gunfight site between protesting civilians and the security forces.

Ahmad and Hussain were shifted to hospital they were declared dead on arrival.

Three other youths were also injured in the clashes, the police said.

The authorities have suspended mobile internet in Pulwama and rail services between the Kashmir Valley and Bannihal town in the Jammu region were cancelled.