Militant killed, claims Army

Protests rock central, south Kashmir; cop among 6 injured  

Srinagar/ Pulwama: Police on Wednesday claimed that a Lashkar-e-Toiba militant was killed in central Kashmir’s Budgam district.

A police official told Precious Kashmir that soldiers of 53 Rashtriya Rifles noticed 2 motorcycle-borne youth, moving in ‘suspicious’ circumstances, near their camp at Dalwan and signaled them to stop. “The duo did not pay any heed to the signal and tried to flee. The troops opened fire at the youth wounding one of them. A weapon fell off from the hand of the injured militant in the process,” he said. “The militant tried to pick up the weapon but was shot dead by forces.”

“An SLR rifle was recovered from the scene. An arms pouch was also found strapped to the body of the slain militant,” the official claimed.

The slain militant was identified Touseef Ahmad of Pulwama.

Army’s Srinagar based spokesman said, “Army men shot dead an unidentified gunman. From his possession, one SLR, 4 magazines, 13 rounds, one grenade, one pouch, and a Pan card were recovered.”

Soon after the incident locals took to the streets and staged massive protest. Police resorted to baton charge and teargas shelling to disperse the demonstrators. However, protesters offered stiff resistance and retaliated with stones triggering clashes in which at least six persons, including a policeman, were wounded.   Massive protests, clashes rock Pulwama  Tension gripped south Kashmir’s Pulwama township  on Wednesday evening after the news about the killing of a local militant in an encounter with forces in central Kashmir.

Forces burst teargas canisters to disperse the protesters. Fearing violence in the town authorities are likely to impose curfew in the town on Thursday to keep the situation under control.

Reports said that at around 5 pm as the word about the local militant  Towseef Ahmad’s death spread in the town shopkeepers downed their shutters and traffic went off the roads.

Reports said that the people in Prichoo and other localities took to streets, staged protests and resorted to stone pelting at government forces.

“The youth also attacked police station with stones and bricks. The policemen in retaliation resorted to heavy teargas shelling to disperse the protesters,” reports said.

They said that the protests and clashes spread to almost all the localities of the town which were going on till this report was filed.

Authorities fearing more violent protests in the town have decided to impose curfew in the area on Thursday.

Deputy Inspector General (DIG), south Kashmir, Vijay Kumar, said that since the militant hails from the town there is the possibility of violent protests in the town.

“To keep the situation under control we may impose restrictions in the town Thursday as a precautionary measure,” the DIG said.