Three militants were killed and two soldiers injured in an encounter in south Kashmir's Kulgam on Sunday. One civilian died and several sustained serious injuries in a blast at the encounter site after the operation was called off.
A police spokesman said the three militants were hiding in Larnoo village of Kulgam and the area was cordoned off in a pre-dawn operation. The search party and the hiding militants established contact early in the morning, triggering an encounter, said the police.
"Three militants were killed and their identity is being ascertained," said the police.
Initial reports suggest two slain militants were from Pakistan and one is local.
Two soldiers were also injured in the initial exchange of fire. The injured were evacuated to Army hospital in Srinagar.
Meanwhile, a civilian, identified as Ubaid Laway from Laroo died in an explosion at the encounter site. Several other sustained grievous injuries in the blast. Locals said the explosion took place after the security forces and the Army called off the operation and withdrew from the site.
"Civilians visited the encounter site immediately after operation in spite of request not to. They didn’t listened and thus visited the spot immediately after forces withdrew and some explosive substance went off resulting in injuries to civilians.One civilian namely died. We request them not to visit the site again," said the police spokesman.