Two civilians killed in clashes at Kulgam encounter site

Srinagar, June 16

At least two civilians were killed and a dozen were injured in clashes that broke out near the site of an ongoing gun battle in south Kashmir’s Kulgam district on Friday.

Sources said that police and CRPF had a difficult time controlling protesters who were marching to the encounter site in Arwani Kulgam since Friday morning to help some trapped militants escape, forcing security forces to fire bullets and pellets.

The civilians who were killed have been identified as Mohammad Ashraf Khar, 22, and Mohammad Ehsan, 14.

Gunfight erupted in the area on Friday morning when a joint team of forces launched a combing operation after they got reports about the presence of 2-3 — top Lashkar-e-Toiba commander Junaid Mattoo among them — in the area.

As the forces closed in, the hiding militants opened fire, leading to a gunfight that is still underway, a senior police officer said.