A policeman, a civilian and two militants have been killed in an ongoing shootout at Nowshera village in South Kashmir on Friday, police said. Security personnel are said to have laid siege to a house, with three to four militants inside.
Confirming the casualties, Jammu and Kashmir director general of police SP Vaid tweeted that the militants are reportedly affiliated to the ISJK — short for the Islamic State of Jammu and Kashmir.
According to sources, militants opened fire at police and army personnel during a search operation at Nowshera village – around 10 kilometres from Anantnag town – on Friday morning. Two civilians and four security personnel were injured in the shootout that followed.
Even as the encounter progressed, villagers began pelting stones at security personnel in an attempt to let the militants escape. A civilian was killed and over 12 others suffered injuries in the clashes that followed. Police said that while Mohammad Yusuf Rather died, his wife has been taken to the Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences in a critical condition.
Internet services have been suspended in Srinagar and Anantnag in light of the ongoing encounter, ANI reported.
This is the first encounter to occur between militants and security personnel ever since the state came under governor’s rule. Three militants were killed in a previous encounter at Tral.
