11 killed in gunfight, subsequent clashes in Pulwama district of J&K

Janjivan Bureau / Srinagar : Three militants and a jawan were killed in a gunfight in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district on Friday. In the subsequent clashes that followed seven civilians were also killed.
The gunfight triggered at Sirnoo in Pulwama, 30 km from Srinagar, when joint teams of police, Army and CRPF cordoned off the area after an input about the presence of three militants, including an Army deserter, Zahoor Ahmad Thoker, in the area, police officials said.
“In the brief exchange of fire three militants were killed,” they said.
As soon as the news about Thoker being trapped in an encounter spread, people started thronging the encounter site as the Army deserter belonged to the same village, the officials said.
Though the encounter ended in 25 minutes with the killing of the three militants, the security forces had a tough time as people started climbing onto Army vehicles, they said.
Intense clashes broke out between the youth and forces near the encounter site which left seven civilians dead and many injured, including a youth who’s condition was stated to be critical..
Thoker had gone missing from an Army unit in Gantmulla area of north kashmir’s Baramulla district in July last year.
He had decamped with his service rifle and three magazines and had joined the militant ranks.
The officials said Thoker was involved in several killings in Pulwama district.
The identity of two other militants was being ascertained.
The officials said an Army jawan lost his life in the gunfight, while two other soldiers were critical.
Authorities have snapped mobile Internet facility in entire south Kashmir comprising four districts.