Srinagar: One civilian was killed while scores were injured during clashes in Pulwama district after the killing of Chief operating commander of LeT Abu Dujana and his associate, Arif Nabi Dar in an encounter with police and security forces in Hakripora village of the district on Tuesday morning.
Locals said that a civilian identified as Firdous Ahmad of Begumbagh, Kakapora was killed by security forces during clashes in Hakripora village where the encounter broke out. However, police said that he was killed in “cross firing.”
Scores of civilians who were protesting were injured in clashes and doctors said most of the injured have firearm and pellet injuries. Police said that 12 injuries have been reported during the day till this report was filed.
26 persons were treated in the Pulwama District hospital, out of them 9 had bullets, 16 pellets and one had tear canister injuries, doctors in the hospital told KNS.
“One youth identified as Shariq Ahmad of Gaberpora, Pulwama, had bullet injury in his abdomen. He was critical but the doctors operated him in the hospital where his condition is stable,” the doctors said.
Doctors said a senior nurse, identified as Gulzara Begum, and an internee student of District hospital Pulwama were injured after army fired “towards the hospital”. “The bullets ricocheted from the walls and hit Gulzara in his back side and the students in his hand. Both of them were treated in the hospital and are stable,” the doctors said.
In SMHS, 17 injured were treated by the doctors and their condition is stated to the stable.
Doctors in the hospital told KNS that 17 injured, nine with bullets, four with pellets, and two had other injuries were treated in the hospital.
“The injured are mostly from Pulwama district and their condition is stable,” the doctors told KNS.
Inspector General of Police, Munir Khan, told KNS that one civilian identified as Firdous Ahmad of Begumbagh, Kakapora, was killed in “cross fire”.
“12 injuries have been reported till now and all the injured are stable,” Khan told KNS.
Meanwhile, protests and clashes erupted at several places across the valley, with students taking to streets forcing authorities to shut down the educational institutions before the closure time.
Protests broke out in city’s Lalchowk when students took out protests against the killing of the militants and a civilian.
Protests also erupted in Shopian, Kulgam, Handwara, Amar Singh College in Gogjibagh, Bemina Degree College and University of Kashmir.
Students in these colleges took to the streets and raised slogans in support of freedom and against the killing of militants and a civilian.
The police rushed to these spots and dispersed the protesting students by firing teargas canisters and resorting to baton charging of the students.
Many students and civilians were detained in Lalchowk and lodged in Kothibagh police station.
Sensing trouble and spreading of protests to other educational institutes, the administration ordered closure of all the schools and colleges ahead of the official timing. (KNS)
