Three militants and a civilian were killed on Saturday during a gunfight and subsequent clashes in Srinagar, police said. A senior Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) officer told reporters here all the three holed-up militants were killed in the gunfight with the security forces in Chattabal area's Gasi Mohalla locality. Security forces, including the police and the CRPF surrounded the area following a tip-off about the presence of the militants. The militants belonged to Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terror outfit.
"Their identities are being ascertained," the officer said.
The civilian identified as Adil Ahmed Yadoo was killed after being hit by a vehicle during clashes between residents and security forces in Safa Kadal, a densely populated downtown neighbourhood on the banks of Jhelum. Locals have alleged that a CRPF vehicle ran over Yadoo, but its spokesperson Rajesh Yadav refuted the claim.
"There was no CRPF vehicle in the area and the allegation is baseless," Yadav said. He was taken to the S.M.H.S hospital in a critical condition where doctors pronounced him dead.
A CRPF officer was wounded in the gunfight while three photo-journalists sustained injuries while they were covering the clashes. Schools and colleges suspended class work as tension spread in the city. Markets and other business shut down. Authorities have suspended mobile Internet services in Srinagar district and brought down the speed of fixed line broadband connections.
Top developments on Srinagar encounter
1. Three LeT militants killed in encounter in J&K: A major terror attack was foiled by the Jammu and Kashmir Police today and three Lashker-e-Taiba (LeT) militants were killed on the outskirts of Srinagar.
Based on an intelligence input, the Special Operations Group of Jammu and Kashmir Police and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel cordoned off an under-construction building, near the Chattabal area this morning, police said.
"All the three militants are neutralised and I believe it was a Lashker-e-Taiba module," Inspector General of Police (Kashmir Range) Swayam Prakash Pani said, adding, "On the basis of the materials recovered from the site, it was found that the terrorists belonged to the outlawed LeT."
3 terrorists have been killed, 3 security personnel have been injured. It was a clean operation, there has been no damage to the building. I thank the people of Srinagar for their cooperation: Ravideep Sahi, IG CRPF on Chattabal encounter #JammuAndKashmir pic.twitter.com/iEVMNBj3kG
— ANI (@ANI) May 5, 2018
2. Weapons recovered: Besides three AK-47 rifles, a huge quantity of ammunition, including five magazines each, and a medical kit were recovered from the militants.
ALSO READ: 3 LeT militants killed in encounter in JK
3. Terrorist planned terror strike: According to Jammu and Kashmir police, the terrorists may have wanted to carry out a terror strike ahead of May 7, when government offices open in Srinagar after shifting from Jammu, the winter capital of the state.
A Special Police Officer (SPO) was killed by the militants on Saturday in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama district. The SPO, Showkat Ahmad, was taken to a hospital after he was shot at by the militants. "Ahmad succumbed to critical bullet injuries. A search has been started to trace the militants," a police officer said. The SPOs are engaged in Jammu and Kashmir on a fixed monthly package to fight militancy. They do not undergo a regular training in handling weapons.
6. Militants attacked Baramulla town on May 1: Lashker-e-Taiba (LeT) militants struck at the Old Baramulla town in Jammu and Kashmir and gunned down three men in their early 20s. A police spokesperson said all the three persons were shot at from a very close range in Iqbal market of Old Baramulla town, killing them on the spot.
The deceased, Asif Ahmad Sheikh, Haseeb Ahmad Khan and Mohmmad Asgar were residents of Kakkar Hamam in Baramulla, he said.
With Agency inputs