One killed in clashes near Pulwama encounter site

One person was killed and several others injured as security forces opened fire on stone-pelting protesters near the encounter site in Pulwama where two terrorists, including top Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) commander Abu Dujana, were killed, police said on Tuesday.

While there was no official word on the identity of the deceased, locals who had brought him to the hospital said his name was Firdous Ahmad, a police official said.

“One person with fire arm injuries was brought dead at Pulwama district hospital,” the official said. At least six other persons were injured in security forces’ action against violent protesters near the encounter site. The official said that over 100 “miscreants” started pelting stones at security forces involved in the anti- militancy operation in Hakripora area of Pulwama.

Giving details of the operation, the official said that security forces launched a cordon and search operation in Hakripora area of Pulwama late last night following information about presence of Abu Dujana and his local aide, Arif Lilhaari, in the area. An encounter broke out between the holed up militants and security forces early on Tuesday.

During a press briefing after the encounter on Tuesday Jammu and Kashmir IG Muneer Khan said, “The firing was retaliated and both were neutralised. Inspite of our warning, the people on the behest of militants come in between the operating parties. Today, it happened in the same manner and we lost a civilian life. Let the security forces do their job. I take opportunity and again appeal to the people pelting or no pelting, disruption or no, operations will continue.”