Encounter in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama LIVE updates: Mobile internet services were suspended on Saturday in most parts of Kashmir, including in Srinagar -- the summer capital, in the aftermath of killing of seven civilians in Pulwama district, officials said.
Separatist-turned-mainstream leader and former minister Sajad Lone said the administration needs to "seriously evaluate" the costs of such anti-militancy operations.
"Extremely disturbing news coming from Pulwama. The administration needs to seriously evaluate the costs of its operations. If there is even a remote chance of civilians getting killed during military operations it is better to call off such operations,"
Lone said in a tweet.
He
expressed hope that the administration abandons "its Rambo mindset".
"My heartfelt thoughts with the families of those who lost their lives in Pulwama. I just pray that Almighty takes us out of the perpetual state of mourning that we seem to have been sucked into. And also hope that administration abandons its Rambo mindset," Lone said.
"The preparedness of security forces would in the Pulwama context be the ability to make the distinction between combatants and non combatants. If u end up killing 7 civilians in order to kill 3 militants. It is time for heads to roll. We can't afford a state of impunity," he
said in another tweet.
Alongside mobile internet services being suspended in the district, rail services between the Kashmir Valley and Bannihal town in the Jammu region have also been cancelled, IANS reported.
According to a report from The Associated Press, locals accused troops of directly spraying gunfire into the crowds. “They (Indian troops) fired at us as if they were practising their guns,” the news agency quoted Shabir Ahmed, a local resident who accompanied some injured taken to a hospital in Srinagar, as saying.
Government forces have been deployed in heavy strength in Pulwama to prevent further protests. Parts of the district where the encounter took place remained shut, while thousands of people have marched to take part in the funeral of a slain militant Zahoor Thoker.
The three militants who were killed in a gunfight with forces at Sirnoo village of South Kashmir's Pulwama district have been identified. Amid the slain militants is Zahoor Thoker, who had deserted the Army and joined militant ranks in early 2017.
The other two slain militants were identified as Adnan alias Tahir Hizbi from Karimabad and Bilal alias Hashim from Rajpora. They were all associated with the Hizbul Mujahideen.
According to reports, one of the seven civilians killed in the clashes has left behind an Indonesian wife and a three-month-old baby. Abid Hussain Lone of Karimabad village completed his MBA from Indonesia, and had returned home last year with his wife, Greater Kashmir reported.
At least six civilians were killed in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pulwama, following protests and clashes during an encounter in the area. The army managed to kill three Hizbul Mujahideen terrorists, including one Zahoor Thokar, an ex-Indian Army personnel who joined militancy last year.
The security forces had launched a cordon and search operation in Sirnoo village in Pulwama district of south Kashmir after receiving specific intelligence input about the presence of militants in the area, a police official said. He said as the forces were conducting searches, when the militants opened fire on them.
Meanwhile, one army jawan had also been killed in the encounter, while two others were reportedly injured.
Former chief minister Omar Abdullah questioned the manner in which security forces were conducting the encounters and asked why was the army not better prepared to handle the mob.
Abdullah said, "Six civilians killed and numerous more injured, many critically. Any way you look at it this was a badly executed encounter. Protests around encounter sites are now the norm, not the exception. Why are we unable to learn how to handle them better?"
He added, "Another blood-soaked weekend in Kashmir. 6 protestors killed, 1 soldier killed in the line of duty. Together with the 3 militants from this morning’s encounter that’s 10 dead. Reports of many injured at the encounter site. What a horrible day!"
Criticising Jammu and Kashmir governor Satya Pal Malik's administration, Abdullah said, "The administration of Governor Malik has one task and one task only — to focus on the security of the people of Jammu and Kashmir and restore peace to a troubled valley. Sadly it appears that’s the only thing the administration is not doing. Publicity campaigns and full page ads don’t bring peace."
The security forces had launched a cordon and search operation in Sirnoo village in Pulwama district of south Kashmir after receiving specific intelligence input about the presence of militants in the area, a police official said. He said as the forces were conducting searches, when the militants opened fire on them.
The forces retaliated, leading to an encounter, the official said.
Incidents of stone pelting were also reported in the area while the encounter was underway. The security forces resorted to tear-gas shelling to disperse the protesters, the report said.
