At least three militants and one police personnel were killed in a gunfight in Fateh Kadal area of Srinagar on Wednesday, ANI reported. Four security personnel were injured, Deputy Inspector General of Police (Central Kashmir) VK Birdhi told The Indian Express.
The site of the encounter is close to where suspected militants shot dead two workers of the National Conference earlier this month.
Jammu and Kashmir Director General of Police Dilbag Singh said that the three bodies have been recovered, reported ANI. Two of the militants were identified as Mehraj-ud-din Bangroo, a wanted Lashkar-e-Taiba operative, and Faid Mushtaq Waza, said Singh.
“Bangroo was wanted in several cases of killings, weapons and other militancy-related activities,” he said. The third militant was identified as overground worker Rayees, son of the house owner where the gunfight took place, PTI reported.
The dead jawan has been identified as Kamal Kishore, said Singh.
According to reports, security forces at the site of the gunfight also beat up a few journalists. A journalist said that the forces fired shots to scare them away from the scene. After media personnel covering the encounter refused to leave the scene, police personnel thrashed three journalists, PTI reported.
In a statement, the Kashmir Press Club condemned the use of physical force and called on the state administration to take note. “Many reporters and photojournalists were beaten up while they were delivering their professional duties this morning,” said the statement. “One of the injured journalists is also a member of the executive team of the Kashmir Press Club.”
“It is also being reported that the thrashing took place right in front of senior police officers,” added the statement. “The Kashmir Press Club has expressed shock over this behaviour by the forces.”
A joint team of the Jammu and Kashmir Police and the Central Reserve Police Force cordoned off Fateh Kadal in the morning after receiving “specific information” about the presence of a few suspected militants, Greater Kashmir reported. As the forces tried to approach them, the militants hiding in a house opened fire, which led to an encounter.
“The exchange of fire has stopped but searches are under way,” said an unidentified police official. Arms and ammunition were also recovered from the site.
All educational institutions in the area have been closed and internet services suspended in Srinagar district.
Inspector General of Police Kashmir Swayam Prakash Pani said that Bangroo was the Lashkar’s key coordinator in Srinagar and was involved in several killings. “Bangroo’s elimination is an important achievement for security forces,” said Pani.
Later, clashes broke out in several parts of the old city as protestors pelted security forces with stones, said police officials. Curfew has been imposed in some parts of the city to maintain law and order.
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