Srinagar: Two civilians and as many security forces personnel were injured while two militants of Lashker-e-Toiba are trapped at Mirbazar in south Kashmir’s Kulgam district where gunfight started in the afternoon on Thursday.
Official sources told GNS that two civilians Sahil Yaqoob Bhat (25) son of Mohammad Yaqoob Bhat of Dantar Anantnag and Shahid Farooq Sheikh (22) son of Farooq Ahmed Sheikh of Larm kulgam suffered injuries in lower abdomen and right thigh respectively at the encounter site.
Police in a tweet said that 2 security forces personnel and 2 civilians were injured from militants’ fire.
“Two trapped (militants) of LeT still alive. Exchange of fire on. 2 SFs personnel & 2 civilians injured from (militants) fire. Taking all precautions for lesser collateral damage as target building is huge one,” IGP Kashmir said in a tweet.
Meanwhile, a top police officer told GNS that “the operation may prolong,” the officer said.
IGP Kashmir Vijay Kumar and General Officer Commanding of Victor Force, Major General Rashim Bali have reached Mirbazar and were supervising the operation at the spot.
One of the two security force personnel was injured in initial phase of the gunfight. Identified as Umesh Singh son of Prabu Singh of Jharkhand, he along with other trooper whose identity was not immediately known have been hospitalized. The encounter had ensued after militants attacked a BSF convoy on Jammu Srinagar Highway at Mirbazar.
Earlier police in a tweet said: “(militants) fired upon BSF convey at NHW Kulgam. No injury reported. However, (militants) trapped. EOF on. Reinforcement reached. Senior officers of Police, CRPF & Army on the spot: IGP Kashmir.”(GNS)