Militant, civilian killed in J-K police encounter

The killed militant has been identified as Farhan Ahmad Wani, 18, of Kulgam district. Khalid Dar, 22, received a bullet injury and later succumbed to his injuries

A militant was gunned down by the security forces in an encounter in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district on Tuesday morning while a 22-year-old civilian succumbed to bullet injuries sustained in the ensuing protests, officials said.

Army personnel take positions during an encounter in Jammu and Kashmir. (PTI File Photo)

While a press release issued by the police said “one Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist was killed”, the army and state DGP SP Vaid said in separate tweets that “two militants” had been gunned down in the encounter with Kokernag police and security forces in Pehlipora village of Larnoo area.

The killed militant has been identified as Farhan Ahmad Wani, 18, of Kulgam district. An INSAS rifle and ammunitions were recovered from the encounter site, police said.

Police also said in its press release that the Kokernag police, along with personnel of 19RR and CRPF, launched a cordon and search operation during which “militants hiding in the area fired upon the joint search team”. “The fire was retaliated, ensuing an encounter,” the note said.

Tuesday’s killings come three days after a powerful explosion in Sopore town in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district killed four policemen. The Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) had claimed responsibility for the attack. The JeM had also claimed a fidayeen attack in which five personnel of the CRPF were killed in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district on December 31. Three militants were also killed in the attack.

Police, meanwhile, arrested two militants and busted an over ground worker module by arresting nine of its members in Sopore.

Police said the arrested men were “trying to recruit innocent youth in the ranks of different banned terrorist outfits”.