Sepoy Happy Singh of Ram Nagar Talwandi Sabo, Bathinda, Punjab.

Majid Jahangir
Tribune News Service
Srinagar, September 27

Two civilians, a soldier and three militants, including an SPO-turned-militant, were killed in Kashmir on Thursday.

Three encounters broke out in Anantnag, Srinagar and Budgam districts when security forces launched three separate operations in the wee hours of Thursday.

A civilian was killed at Noorbagh locality in Srinagar city, during a cordon and search operation which was launched following an input about the presence of militants.

The slain civilian was identified as Mohammad Saleem Malik. Security sources said they had an input about the presence of two militants in the area when the operation was launched.

Intense clashes erupted in the area and authorities suspended mobile internet in Srinagar to maintain law and order.

J&K Police blamed militants for the death of Malik.

“…The hiding terrorists fired indiscriminately resulting in death of Saleem Malik,” a police spokesman said.  The operation was later called off.

In a separate gunfight, a soldier and a local militant were killed in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district that broke out on Thursday morning.

The gunfight broke at Gaksigund Dooru when the forces were carrying out a search operation in the area.

“In the gunfight, a Lashkar-e-Toiba militant commander and a soldier were killed,” police said.

Police identified the slain militant as Asif Malik.

“He was involved in several attacks on security forces including the killing of CRPF men at Achabal this year and in many other cases of civilian atrocities,” a police spokesman said.

The slain jawan was identified as 25-year-old Happy Singh of 19 Rashtriya Rifles and a resident of Talwandi Sabo in Bathinda.

Two local militants were killed and two soldiers were injured in another gunfight in Budgam district.

The two local militants were trapped in Panzan mosque during a cordon and a search operation. Special forces were deployed to flush out the militants.

“Security forces also appealed to the terrorists to come out.  However, the terrorists turned down the offer and consequently the operation had to be carried out in a deliberate manner keeping intact the sanctity of the mosque. In this operation, two terrorists were killed,” the spokesman said.

The two militants were identified as Sheeraz Ahmad Bhat of Kralwari Chadoora and Irfan Ahmad Dar of Kakapora Pulwama and the two were affiliated with  Hizbul Mujahideen.

Irfan Ahmad Dar was working as an SPO and had deserted a couple of months ago, the spokesman said.

Meanwhile, an unidentified man was killed in alleged Army firing in Kupwara district.

Police said the Army at around 2 am had laid an ambush at Rangward area of Kralpora when they noticed a man moving in the area who was challenged.

“He ran away and the Army fired at him. The man was injured and taken to hospital where he succumbed to his injuries on Thursday morning,” he said.

The identity of the slain youth could not be established. However, he does not appear to be a local.

A Srinagar-based defence spokesman said they were ascertaining the facts about the incident.