Security forces yesterday killed three separatist guerrillas in a gunfight in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district.
“Following specific information that a group of militants was hiding in Mir Mohalla (Charsoo) village near Tral town of Pulwama district, security forces surrounded the area on Wednesday evening,” a senior police officer said.
“As forces closed in on the house where the militants were hiding, they came under heavy firing. Three militants have been killed in the resulting encounter. We have recovered three AK rifles from them,” the officer added.
A search is underway at the encounter site. The exact identity of the slain guerrillas is being established, the officer said.
Also yesterday, two soldiers were injured in an ongoing operation against guerrillas near the Line of Control in Kupwara district, police said.
Meanwhile, Border Security Force yesterday unearthed a tunnel near the international border in RS Pura sector.
“BSF personnel have discovered an underground tunnel at Allah Maie Kothay area in RS Pura sector of the international border in Jammu district,” police sources said.
Initial inspection revealed that the tunnel was over 50ft in length.
l Chairman of the moderate faction of Hurriyat Conference Mirwaiz Umer Farooq blamed the government for pushing talented and educated youth to pick up the gun.
“Stifling of dissent and democratic expression is now forcing talented and educated Kashmiri youth to the wall,” Farooq said.
He released a documentary titled “Children in conflict-torn Kashmir” to highlight the tragedy of children affected by the turmoil.