In one of the bloodiest encounters of this year, one Hizbul Mujahideeen militant and three civilians were killed as gunbattle raged at Chadoora area of central Kashmir's Budgam district on Tuesday. The clashes that occurred near encounter site left 20 civilians injured. One PARA trooper was also injured in firefight.Official sources said a gunbattle raged at Doorbugh village of Chadoora this morning after government forces launched a cordon and search operation as they received information about the presence of militants. As the searches were on, militants hiding in a house fired upon forces, ensuing an encounter. There was intense exchange of fire between the two sides while locals from nearby locations in order to assist militants in fleeing tried to storm the encounter site by pelting stones on forces men.However, the government forces intercepted the protesters and fired teargas and pellets, ensuing clashes. As the clashes turned intense, the government forces opened fire towards protesters. In the firing, many civilians were hit and one of them identified as Zahid Rashid son of Ab Rashid Ganie received bullet injuries and was shifted to local government hospital.
BMO Chadoora hospital, Dr Dileer Bhat told GNS that Zahid had bullet injury in his neck and was shifted to Srinagar hospital for specialized treat. But doctors at SMHS declared him brought dead. He was the only brother of five sisters. The killing fuelled protests in and around Chadoora.Panic gripped at Jehangir Chowk area of city after police fired few tear smoke shells to disperse a group of people who were carrying body of Zahid. The group had taken body of the youth Zahid Rashid Ganie from the SMHS hospital. Reports said that a group of people started marching towards the Chadoora-the native village of Zahid, after reaching Jehangir Chowk, police intercepted them and fired few tear smoke shells to disperse them.Later, while chasing, the police took the body into their possession for legal medical formalities. A police official when contacted said that the group of people forcibly taken away the body from the hospital without allowing the authorities to complete the legal formalities. The body was later handed over to his family at Chadoora. Police had also used teargas on protesters outside SMHS Hospital at Kak Sarai.Another youth identified as Saqib Ahmad who was admitted at SMHS succumbed to his injuries, taking the death toll to two. Saqib was also hit by a bullet. Official sources said Saqib was among 15 persons who were injured in the forces action during protests in Chadoora.The clashes amid massive protests were intensified at Chadoora and its adjoining areas soon after the news about the death of two civilians spread.
On the other side, government forces razed the house where militants were holed up to ground by blasting it with IEDs. Later, body of one militant of Hizbul Mujahideeen was recovered from debris. He was identified as Tauseef Ahmad Wagay of Kanjijulla village of Yaripora in Kulgam district.Some reports suggested that two militants managed to escape during massive stone-pelting. Amid clashes, another civilian identified as Ishfaq Ahmad of Rangreth area of Rawalpora in Srinagar was killed when he was shot by government forces. Although he was rushed to Srinagar’s SMHS Hospital but he was declared brought dead.The killing of third youth triggered heavy protests at SMHS and scores of youth took body of the slain towards Nawab Bazar area of downtown Srinagar for funeral. Witnesses said as the funeral was started, police arrived on the spot and resorted to teargas shelling on mourners and took body in their passion. The shelling created panic in entire Nawab Bazar and nearby downtown localities while shopkeepers downed their shutters.According to official sources, twenty civilians have been injured in day-long clashes at Chadoora area. The clashes and protests also erupted at Yaripora Kulgam, Rawalpora, Tral, Pulwama, Rangreth and other areas. Thousands of people attended the funeral prayers of three civilians in their respective areas amid massive anti-India protests.(GNS)