Conflict

7 militants’ bodies retrieved in Draggad, Kachdor gunfight on, another cordon laid in Arhama

Police have retrieved all the bodies of those killed in a gunfight at Druggad village. The seven militants and one civilian have been identified.

Armed forces had killed at least 11 militants, in twin operations in Draggad and Kachdor areas. Seven militants were killed in Draggad, whereas three were reported to be killed in Kachdor where the operation was ongoing when reports last came.

Police said that those killed in Draggad include seven Hizb-ul-Mujahideen militants and a civilian. “We have started the process of handing over bodies to the respective families,” a senior police officer said. “By evening, the families will lay them to rest.”

Police sources in Srinagar and Shopian have identified the killed militants as Yawar Itoo, a resident Safnagri Zainpora, Nazim Nazir of Nagbal, Adil Thokar of Homhona, Ubair Shafi Malla, a resident of Trenz, Rais Thokar of Paderpora, Ishafaq Malik of Pinjoora and Zubair Turay of Shopian town.

The killed civilian, Mushtaq Ahmad Thokar, is a local resident. A police officer told Kashmir Life that “He is the same person whom the army had taken last night to guide them to the area.”

Reports said the area is tensed as tens of thousands of people have assembled in their villages.

Police said all the killed militants were in their battle fatigues and the slain civilian was in tracksuits.

Meanwhile, the counter-insurgency grid has started a cordon in Arhama village. A police officer said that a gunshot also heard, but not many details are immediately known.

The operation was going on at Kachdor, with reports of killing of three militants, when reports last came.

ALSO READ: Youth injured in Shopian dies, authorities shut down mobile internet in parts of valley

Official sources told news agency GNS that a youth Zubair Ahmad Bhat son of Abdul Ahad Bhat, a resident of Gopalpora DH Pora in neighbouring Kulgam district suffered injuries near the encounter site at Kachdora. Zubair was shifted to primary health centre Vehil where he succumbed.

Reports said that intense clashes were received in most parts of south Kashmir including Shopian and Anantnag.

In these clashes over a dozen youth received injuries after police and paramilitary forces used tear smoke shells and fired pellet guns on them. Among the dozen injured, one youth namely Niyaz Ahmad son of Abdul Rehman received serious bullet wounds.

A police officer told GNS that some youth suffered injuries in clashes that erupted following the operations in the area. The official denied killing of any civilian and said one youth Niyaz received bullet wounds in his legs and arms.

ALSO READ: Joint Resistance calls for shutdown after 11 militants were killed in Shopian

Meanwhile, reports of clashes and spontaneous shutdown were received from other parts of the Valley including the Old City Srinagar and Palhallan.

The Joint Resistance Leadership (JRL) of Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umer Farooq and Yasin Malik called for a Kashmir-wide shutdown on Sunday. The Shutdown call is for Sunday and Monday.

The JRL has asked people to suspend business and other activities and offer funeral prayers in absentia at 4 pm across Kashmir valley.

ALSO READ: Top commanders among 11 militants killed in separate gunfights in Shopian, 50 civilians injured

Over 50 civilians have been injured, and some have been referred to Srinagar. Four army men sustained injuries.

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