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Majid Jahangir
Tribune News Service
Srinagar, October 21
At least six civilians were killed on Sunday in an explosion at an encounter site in south Kashmir's Kulgam shortly after a gunfight had left three militants dead.
The gunfight erupted at Laroo Kulgam when security forces launched a cordon and search operation following specific information about the presence of militants in the area.
“As the suspected houses were being cordoned, hiding militants opened fire around 4.15 am, triggering a gunfight. At least three militants were killed in the gunfight," a police official said, adding the identity of the slain militants is being ascertained.
Forces also recovered arms and ammunition from the encounter site.
Authorities have also suspended mobile Internet services in Kulgam as a precautionary measure to maintain law and order.
Six civilians died in an explosion at the encounter site.
Police said later in a statement: “Civilians visited the encounter site immediately after operation in spite of (our) request not to visit as thorough search is to be made for explosives once flames douse. They didn’t listened and thus visited the spot immediately after forces withdrew and some explosive substance went off resulting in injuries to civilians."
Parties express deep anguish over civilian deaths
Political parties, meanwhile, expressed deep anguish over the death of civilians in a blast at an encounter site in Kulgam district after a gunfight in which three militants were killed.
National Conference (NC) president Farooq Abdullah and vice-president Omar Abdullah expressed shock and deep anguish over the death of civilians near the encounter site in Laroo area of Kulgam in south Kashmir.
"It is heart rending to learn about such incidents which have become norm of the day. The situation calls for immediate de-escalation from all sides, Abdullah said.
Expressing anguish over the "highly unfortunate" incident, NC vice-president said little good can their words do to those who lost their loved ones.
He said civilian casualties in Kulgam "do not augment well for peace to return back to our state. A whole new generation is growing in conflict and what needs to be done is to start time-bound and result-oriented dialogue process".
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president and former chief minister Mehbooba Mufti expressed profound "grief and shock over the death of six civilians and injuries to others.
In a statement, the PDP president appealed Governor S P Malik to ensure that all standard operating procedures (SOPs) are strictly adhered to while dealing with the security situations and all the security agencies are advised to take precautions to avoid any collateral damage.
Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) vice-president Ghulam Nabi Monga also lamented the civilian deaths and blamed the Centre's "wrong policies towards Kashmir for the casualties". - With PTI inputs
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