Two militants, a civilian and a cop were killed in a firefight at Srigufwara area of south Kashmir's Anantnag district. Scores of youth were also injured in alleged government forces action during the encounter which also saw injuries to two army men.Official sources told GNS that today morning a joint team of army, SOG and CRPF laid a cordon in Nowshera Khiram in Srigufwara.As the searches in the area were intensified, the militants opened fire resulted into an encounter which continued for several hours, they said.In the initial gunfight, the house owner, identified as Muhammad Yousuf Rather (50), and his wife Hafeeza suffered bullet wounds, they said.Both the injured were immediately taken to nearby hospital where Rather succumbed to injuries, they said.The locals alleged that the husband and the wife suffered injuries in government forces firing. As per SOP the civilian population is to be evacuated by forces before launching any assault against militants.Later in the exchange of gunfire, two army men and an SPO from SOG namely Ashiq Hussain received serious injuries, they said.
All the injured were evacuated to a military hospital where the SPO succumbed to injuries, they said.In the meantime, the forces blasted the residential house and razed it into the rubble which resulted in the killing of two militants, they said.A police officer confirmed the killing of two militants and said that so far one body has been recovered from under the debris. "Searches to recover another body is going on".Meanwhile, massive clashes erupted near the encounter site and its adjoining area soon after the news about the gunfight between militants and the government forces spread.Sources said that at least 20 persons received injuries so far after police and paramilitary CRPF resorted to pellet firing, used tear smoke shells and fired few rounds to disperse the protesters.One of the injured identified as Ubaid Ahmad suffered bullet injuries in his neck and his condition is stated to be serious at a hospital where he was admitted.Meanwhile, clashes erupted in Pulwama, the district neighbouring with Anantnag.Police used force to quell the protesters. (GNS)