Pulwama gunfight: As many as seven civilians were killed and several injured when security forces allegedly opened fire to disperse a boisterous crowd that gathered near the encounter site in Sirnoo village of south Kashmir’s Pulwama district on Saturday. According to a report by news agency ANI, three militants were also killed including an Army man during the gunfight. The broke out on Saturday morning after the security forces launched a cordon-and-search-operation following a tip-off about the presence of militants in the region. The violence has led to a tense situation in the district which has also drawn sharp political reactions.

Identities of the killed terrorists are yet to be ascertained. However, according to various media reports, the slain civilians were identified as Shahbaz Ali, resident of Monghama village, Suhail Ahmad of Bellow, Liyaqat Ahmad from Parigam, Murtaza of Prichoo, Amir Ahmad Palla of Ashminder and Abid Hussain Lone of Kareemabad.

Early in the morning, police and army launched an operation in Sirnoo village, five kilometres from Pulwama town. While the security forces were conducting the cordon-and-search operations, protesters tried to stop it to provide safe passage to trapped militants. In the firing, several civilians sustained injuries and later succumbed.

Reacting to the incident, National Conference leader and former Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah took to Twitter and condemned the incident. “Another blood soaked weekend in Kashmir. 6 protestors killed, 1 solider 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!,” he tweeted.

“6 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?,” Abdullah questioned.

As per reports, internet services have been suspended in the south Kashmir region and train services have been halted between Srinagar and Banihal. As per data government data, 44 policemen were martyred in a series of militant attacks in different parts of Jammu and Kashmir in 2018.