An elderly woman was among two persons injured in a shootout in south Kashmir’s Pulwama town on Friday where a burqa-clad youngster believed to be an over-ground worker of a militant outfit was captured.
The shootout created panic in the otherwise bustling town, a few hours before Friday’s midday prayers were held.
Police said the shootout took place when an anti-insurgency column of police conducted a raid after a tip-off on the movement of militants in the area. They said during the raid, an exchange of fire took place when fire came from some militants boarding a passenger vehicle.
Sources said after the shootout, the police cordoned off the area and began searching the passersby when they caught hold of a suspicious person wearing a veil (burqa). The burqa-clad person turned out to be a man, who was later identified as Tariq Ahmad, a resident of a Darch village.
Police said he was an over-ground worker of militants. However, locals said that Ahmad has a roguish behaviour and involves in petty crimes.
The wounded civilians have been identified as Reyaz Ahmad and Rehti Begum.