BASHARAT RASHID
Srinagar: A youth was killed and two girls injured after government forces opened live ammunition and resorted to pellet fire against protesters at Chaigund area of Shopian district on Wednesday evening.
Official sources said that clashes erupted soon after the encounter in the area, and government forces opened fire besides pellet, resulting into the killing of one youth Shakir Ahmad Mir, 17, of Qalampora area of Shopian and injuries to two girls who have firearm injuries in head. One of the girls have been referred to SKIMS and other is admitted in SMHS hospital Srinagar.
Police version:
A police spokesman said that on a specific information, the joint party of Police Shopian, 44 RR and 14 Bn CRPF laid a cordon at Chaigund area of Shopian. The hiding militants under the clad of Burka tried to break cordon and fired indiscriminately on the search party. “The forces retaliated during which Burka-clad militants were forced to go back into hiding. During indiscriminate firing by the militants and the retaliatory fire one civilian namely Shakir Ahmad Mir resident of Kalampora Pulwama got killed and two ladies namely Sabreena Jan and Sumi Jan both the residents of Keegam Shopian received bullet injuries.”
The injured ladies were taken to SMHS hospital where from they were shifted to SKIMS Soura for specialised treatment .
He said the injuries are not the result of ‘law & order’ situation as Sumi Jan was a resident of the house in which the encounter is on and Sabreena Jan is a sister of Hizb militant Sameer Wani.
“So far one AK 47, one INSAS and two dead bodies of militants have been recovered from the encounter site, whose identities are being ascertained.”
“Meanwhile it is pertinent to mention that during initial phase of operation miscreants tried to disrupt the operation by heavy stone pelting on the forces,” the spokesman said, adding, “Till filing of this report the operation was underway and further details will follow.”
