A Lashkar-e-Tayyeba (LeT) terrorist was killed in a shootout with security forces at Chakoora village of south Kashmir’s Pulwama district while one Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel was injured in a grenade attack in Kulgam district, officials said.
They said a cordon and search operation was launched by a joint team of Army, police and CRPF after unknown terrorists fired upon an army vehicle passing through Chakoora village in jurisdiction of Awantipora police district.
They said in the retaliatory action one terrorist was killed. He was identified as Irfan Ahmad Sheikh, a local resident who was active as LeT commander in the area for several years. The encounter took place amid heavy downpour in the area. Sheikh’s body drenched in blood and mud went viral after the encounter.
They said search operation was launched by security forces after the attack in the area. They said some terrorists were believed to be hiding in the area. The search operation continued till late in the evening.
Massive clashes erupted in the village after local youths took to streets and clashed with forces conducting the operation. The protesters pelted stones and bricks on security personnel who in turn retaliated with tear gas shells to disperse the protesters.
In another incident, suspected militants hurled a grenade on CRPF camp of 18 Battalion at Laroo area of Kulgam district resulting in injuries to one paramilitary CRPF trooper. The injured was taken to nearby hospital for treatment they said.
Meanwhile, a 13-year-old boy Junaid Iqbal succumbed to his injuries at a premier hospital after battling for life for five days. He and his teenage friend had received injuries after an explosive device they were fiddling with exploded in a south Kashmir village. The explosive was left over after a gunfight in the area last week that resulted into killing of two terrorists.