Security forces cordoned off Durbugh village following information about the presence of militants in a house. Tribune photo: Amin War

Majid Jahangir

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, March 28

A militant and three civilians were killed while several people injured in a gunfight and clashes that sparked in central Kashmir’s Budgam on Tuesday.

The anti militancy operation began at Durbugh Chadoora, 20 km from here this morning when joint teams of police, Army and CRPF launched an operation after a tip-off about the presence of a militant.

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The nine-hour-long gunfight ended with the killing of a local Hizbul Mujahideen militant. A weapon was also recovered from the slain militant.

Sources said as the gunfight erupted, a large number of protesters tried to march towards the gunfight site to help the holed-up militant to escape. Intense clashes erupted at multiple places near the gunfight site between the youth and the forces.“During clashes three youths were critically wounded, who later succumbed to injuries,” they said.The slain all in their twenties were identified as Zahid Rashid of Chadoora, Qaiser Ahmed Ganai, 23, of Wathoora and Ishfaq Rashid of Rangreth.It was first time that such protests broke out in central Kashmir’s Budgam district during a gunfight.Kashmiri separatists have called for a strike on Wednesday against the civilian killing in Budgam.J&K Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti said violence will fetch nothing and dialogue was the way forward.