Detailed Video Report | After killing of 3 militants in gunfight, Pulwama on boil, 7 civilians among 11 killed

Loss of civilians deeply grieved: Police

Srinagar, Dec 15 : Seven civilians were on Saturday killed in post gunfight clashes after the killing of three militants and an Army man during a gunfight in Monghama area of village Sirnoo in Pulwama district.
Reports said that the sleuths of 55 RR of Indian Army, SOG of Police and 182/183 BN CRPF jointly launched a cordon and search operation (CASO) early Saturday morning in Monghama area of Pulwama district on specific information about the presence of militants on the area.
As the government forces approached towards the militants, they were fired upon by the militants from a close range, triggering an encounter during which three militants and an Army man were killed.
As the news about the killing of three militants spread in the area, the people living in the vicinity tried to march to gunfight site but government forces stopped their march to gunfight site, triggering intense clashes.
Locals said that forces fired upon the protesters indiscriminately as a result of which dozens were injured.
The injured were brought to district hospital Pulwama where, hospital sources said, six critically injured succumbed to injuries and one of the injured youth referred to SMHS hospital Srinagar succumbed in the afternoon.
Locals said dozens of injured were still undergoing treatment in district hospital Pulwama and SMHS hospital in Srinagar, adding that the death toll could rise.
Meanwhile, police in a statement issued to KNS almost five hours after the killing of civilians in Pulwama hospital and SMHS hospital in Srinagar said, “During the search operation, which was an open field with hideout made by the militants, hiding militants fired indiscriminately leading to an encounter. Consequently, Army personnel got injured and one Army man succumbed to his injury while others are being treated at a hospital.”
“While the operation was going on, a crowd who came dangerously close from different parts to the encounter site got injured,” police said.
Claiming that the injured were evacuated to hospital where seven persons succumbed to their injuries, the police statement said others who were admitted in the hospital are stated to be stable, adding that “the loss of civilians is deeply grieved. Police once again appeal the citizens to remain away from encounter site as it is a prohibited zone which involves significant danger to life because of nature of the encounter.”
Confirming that three milityants were killed in the encounter, police in its statements said, “Bodies were handed over to the legal heirs after completion of medico-legal formalities,” adding that one of the killed militants has been identified as Zahoor Ahmad Thoker, son of Abdul Majid Thoker resident of Sirnoo Pulwama. Pertinently, Zahoor had deserted from Army last year and joined HM. He was a known militant commander and was wanted by law for his complicity in a series of unlawful activities.
Police also said several cases were registered against him and the prominent among them are case FIR No. 37/2018 U/S 307 RPC 7/27 I.A.Act P/S Rajpora, Case FIR No. 105/2018 U/S ¾ Exp Sub Act, 427 RPC, 3 P.P.T Act P/S Pulwama, Case FIR No. 124/2018 U/S 7/27 I.A. Act, 148,336,149,307 RPC P/S Pulwama, Case FIR No. 128/2018 U/S ¾ Exp Sub Act 307 RPC P/S Pulwama, Case FIR No. 139/2018 U/S 307 RPC 7/25 ULA of P/S Pulwama pertaining to the killing of policemen Aqib Ahmad Wagay of Puchal Pulwama.
Police has registered a case in the matter. “Incriminating materials including arms and ammunition recovered from the site of encounter have been taken in case records for further investigation and probe their complicity in other cases,” the statement reads. (KNS)