Three terrorists killed in counter-terrorism operation in J&K's Pulwama

Srinagar, January 4: Three militants were killed and an army soldier injured in a fierce gun-battle in southern Tral area on Thursday, triggering massive protests and clashes in several areas.

 

The first gunfight between the rebels and forces this year took place in the forests of Gulshanpora, some seven kilometers from Tral town, the police said.

The slain militants were identified as Shakoor Ahmad Parray of Laribal Tral, Touseef Ahmad Thoker and Zubair Ahmed Bhat, both residents of Chursoo, Awantipora, and were associated with Hizbul Mujahideen and Jaish-e- Muhammad outfits, a police official told Greater Kashmir.

In 2018, at least 18 militants were killed in various gunfights in Tral but none of the slain militants belonged to Hizb. The last Hizb militant who died in Tral was Adil Chopan of Lurow, who was killed in a gunfight with forces in Seer area in November 2017.

A source said the army’s 42 Rashtriya Rifles and police launched the operation early Thursday morning “after specific inputs about the presence of militants” in Gulshanpora.

“In the initial exchange of gunfire, an army soldier sustained bullet injuries. He was quickly evacuated to the army’s base hospital in Srinagar, where he is undergoing treatment,” the source said.

When the gunfight intensified, the army used choppers to trace the militants, the source said.

“The firing stopped in the morning for some time but resumed late in the afternoon,” a police official said.

Following the gunfight, massive protests erupted across Tral and its adjoining areas, especially after the news of the militants’ killing spread.

Clashes were witnessed in main town, Batagund and some other adjoining villages after youth hit the streets and started throwing stones at forces’ vehicles. The forces responded with aerial firing and using pellet ammunition.

A witness said at least a dozen protesters suffered injuries in the forces’ action and six of them were hit with pellets.

Most of the injured were treated locally but four were taken to sub-district hospital Tral.

A doctor at the SDH said two persons with grave pellet injuries were referred to Srinagar hospitals for “advanced treatment”.

All shops and business establishments in the area remained closed while public and private transport was off the roads.

As a matter of routine, the internet service was suspended in the police district Awantipora and district Pulwama soon after the gunfight broke out.