The civilian death toll in clashes near a gunfight site in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district on Saturday mounted to seven as four more civilians succumbed to their injuries.
Reports said that protesting youth tried to march towards the gunfight site in Kharpora Sirnoo as soon as the news of
They said that the forces fired live ammunition at the protesters, resulting in seven civilian deaths.
An official at district hospital Pulwama said that seven injured youth
He identified them as Shahbaz Ali,
He said the seventh body was yet to be identified.
Three militants were killed on Saturday in a gunfight with the government forces in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district, while two civilians died in subsequent clashes in the area. Two soldiers were reportedly injured in the gunfight.
The gunfight broke out in Kharpora Sirnoo village after the government forces launched a cordon-and-search-operation after a tip-off about the presence of militants.
News agency GNS reported that three militants were killed in the gunfight. However, there was no immediate confirmation from the police.
The identities of the slain militants were being ascertained, said the report while quoting a police officer.
Two youths, identified as Amir Ahmad Palla and Abid Hussain Lone, were critically injured after forces fired live ammunition and pellets to chase away the youth trying to march towards the site of the gunfight.
Ahmad and Hussain were shifted to the hospital they were declared dead on arrival.
Three other youths were also injured in the clashes, said a source at the district hospital Pulwama.
The authorities have suspended mobile internet in Pulwama and rail services between the Kashmir Valley and Banihal town in the Jammu region were cancelled.
