2:52 PM: 22 PROTESTERS INJURED IN CLASHES
Upto 22 protesters were injured in clashes with armed forces in Chowgam area of Kulgam district.
An official at district hospital Anantnag said that twenty-two injured were brought to the facility for treatment.
“Five among them, two with firearm and three with pellet injury in eyes, were referred to Srinagar for specialized treatment,” said the official.
12:48 PM: SLAIN MILITANTS INVOLVED IN KILLING OF POLICEMEN, SAY COPS
Jammu and Kashmir Police claimed that the five militants killed in a gunfight with the armed forces were involved in several attacks on police in south Kashmir.
The cops said the group consisted of militants associated with Hizb and Lashkar.
“This was a group of militants involving HM and LeT. The killed militants were identified as Gulzar Ahmad Padder alias Saif resident of Adijan Kulgam, Faisal Ahmad Rather alias Dawood resident of Yamrach Kulgam, Zahid Ahmad Mir alias Hashim resident of Okey Kulgam, Masroor Molvi alias Abu Darda resident of Fatehpora Anantnag and Zahoor Ahmad Lone alias Rehman Bhai resident of Nagnad Noorabad Damhal Hanjipora.”
The police said that Gulzar Paddar was a close associate of Altaf Kachroo and was involved in a series of attacks including killing of five police personnel at Pambay last year along with two bank employees.
“He was also involved in the killings of SPO at Krewan Chidder in Kulgam. Besides he was involved in looting police guards at Damhaal and weapon snatching cases reported across Kulgam and many other bank robbery cases attempted in the area,” the police spokesman said.
“Zahid of Okey village was wanted for his involvement in the killing of policeman Fayaz Ahmad of Zainapora on the day of Eid. Faisal was involved in the killing of Policeman Gowhar Ahmad who was posted in Shopian last year. Zahoor @ Rehman and Mansoor were involved in series of offences besides recruitment bid in the locality.
11:22 AM: ALL FIVE MILITANTS DECLARED DEAD, SHUTDOWN ENSUES
Police confirmed the death of two militants with whom a gunfight had ensued following a search to retrieve the dead bodies of previous three militants in South Kashmir’s Kulgam district on Saturday, NDTV reported.
Meanwhile, a spontaneous shutdown was observed in Anantnag, Kulgam districts of South Kashmir following five militants who were killed during a search operation by armed forces that kickstarted late last night.
10:52 AM: CLASHES ERUPT BETWEEN PROTESTERS, ARMED FORCES
In the ongoing gunfight between militants and armed forces, protesters clashed with armed forces in Chowgam village of Qazigund area in south Kashmir’s Kulgam district on Saturday.
Kashmir Reader reported, quoting hospital sources that they received five injured civilians. Two among them had fire arm injuries. They added that all the five injured have been referred to district hospital Anantnag.
Local sources said that scores of protesters assembled around the gunfight site and started pelting stones on armed forces to disrupt their operation. In retaliation, the forces fired tear smoke shells, pellets and even fired bullets to disperse the protesters.
9:44 AM: FRESH FIRE EXCHANGE, INTERNET SERVICES SUSPENDED
News agency GNS, quoting a senior police officer, confirmed a fresh exchange of fire at the site of the gunfight between militants and armed forces in South Kashmir’s Kulgam district on Saturday after the forces had started locating the bodies.
The police officer said that forces came under fire after they started entering the house which had been razed to the ground by IEDs during the gunfight.
The officer said that militants have so far been killed in the gunfight. “… and we believe two more are hiding at the encounter site.”
Meanwhile, mobile internet services were suspended in Anantnag, Kulgam districts of South kashmir in lieu of the ongoing gunfight in Qazigund.
An official said the service was suspended in the two districts “as a precautionary measure” to check spread of rumours.
Srinagar: The Jammu and Kashmir police said that three militants were killed in an ongoing gunfight with armed forces in south Kashmir’s Kulgam district which began late last night on Saturday.
On Twitter, the police confirmed: “3 reported to have been neutralised. Train services between Baramulla -Qazigund suspended. Police and Security Forces on job.”
Encounter going on in Chowgam Kulgam. Five terrorists are trapped. 3 reported to have been neutralised. Train services between Baramulla -Qazigund suspended. Police and Security Forces on job.
— J&K Police (@JmuKmrPolice) September 15, 2018
A huge success for Police and security https://t.co/uuE58IFiES was a combo of HM and LeT terrorists.Most of them were involved in a series of terror acts including killing of 2 bank employees and many policemen.Also involved in bank robberies and weapon looting.
— J&K Police (@JmuKmrPolice) September 15, 2018
Reports stated that a joint team of the Indian army and SOG launched a cordon-and-search operation at Chowgam following specific inputs about the presence of some militants. Intensifying of the searches led to the joint team firing shots at a suspected spot which triggered a gunfight.
Police also stated that the militants were from Hizbul Mujahideen and Lashkar-e-Toiba and had earlier been involved in a series of attacks.
