Three rebels, an army man and a civilian were killed in a fierce gunfight that broke out in Dalipora area of Pulwama town in south Kashmir on Thursday morning.
An official said that the gunfight broke out shortly before dawn after the security forces launched a cordon and search operation in Dalipora following inputs about the presence of militants.
He said the rebels opened fire after the forces approached the house where they were hiding. “The forces retaliated, triggering a fierce gunfight,” he said, adding that three militants and a soldier were killed in the firefight that raged for several hours.
Reports said a civilian, believed to be the son of the house owner, was also killed and his brother wounded during the gunfight.
The deceased civilian was identified as Rayees Ahmad Dar and his injured brother as Younis Ahmad.
Medical Superintendent district hospital Pulwama confirmed his death.
A police official said that the bodies of the slain rebels have been recovered from the gunfight site. Their identity is being ascertained, he said.
Meanwhile, Authorities on Thursday imposed strict curfew in Pulwama town following a gunfight in Dalipora area of the district that left three militants, soldier and a civilian dead.
An official said that the curfew was imposed in the town after heavy clashes broke out between the locals and the security forces.
A complete shutdown is also being observed in the neighbouring Shopian district as one among the three slain militants belongs to the district.
Reports said the shutdown was observed as soon as the news of the militant’s killing spread in the district.
The deceased civilian was identified as Rayees Ahmad Dar and his injured brother as Younis Ahmad.
