Four terrorists, a civilian killed across J&K

Five persons - four militants and a civilian - were killed in three separate incidents across Kashmir in the past 24 hours.

In the latest incident on Wednesday morning, a civilian identified as Muhammad Asif Padroo was killed at a checkpoint in Haal area of Pulwama in southern Kashmir.

Additional director general of police in Kashmir, Vijay Kumar, said the rifle of a policeman accidentally went off, resulting in injuries to a person. The person was evacuated by police to the hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries. "A case has been registered in this regard and the policeman was arrested. Further investigation is going on," said Kumar.


Former chief ministers of J&K Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti condemned the incident.

"As if the harsh measures put in place causing grave inconvenience to the people in Kashmir weren't enough, Asif from Pulwama paid with his life in the name of ensuring security for the home minister's visit. My heart goes out to his family," said Mufti.

NC leader Abdullah demanded swift, credible and transparent probe into this death. "Those responsible must be punished to the fullest extent possible," he said.

In two encounters in Drach and Moolu areas of Shopian, four militants, three of Jaish-e-Mohammed and one from Lashkar-e-Taiba, were killed. Out of the three militants killed in Drach, two were identified as Hanan Bin Yaqoob and Jamshed, who the police said were involved in the recent killing of a special police officer and non-local labourer. The armed forces have killed about 155 militants in Kashmir this year.