Srinagar, August 1: One person was killed and several others were injured as security forces opened fire on stone-pelting protesters near the encounter site in Pulwama’s Hakripora village, where Lashkar-e-Toiba commander Abu Dujana was killed in a gunbattle with security forces on Tuesday. In a bid to prevent flaring up of the protest, Internet services have been shut in Kashmir valley.
As a precautionary move, school and colleges will remain closed today. “Internet services to remain suspended in Kashmir valley for sometime,” Inspector General of Kashmir Police Munir Khan said.
While there was no official word on the identity of the deceased, locals who had brought him to the hospital said his name was Firdous Ahmad, a police official said. “One person with fire arm injuries was brought dead at Pulwama district hospital,” the official said.
Heavy stone pelting was also reported from the encounter site following the encounter in which two LeT terrorists were killed. “Stone pelting or no pelting, disruptions or no disruptions, our operations will continue,” Khan said.
The official said that over 100 “miscreants” started pelting stones at security forces involved in the anti-terrorism operation in Hakripora. He said the security forces used tear smoke shells, pellets and fired a few live rounds to disperse the stone-pelting protestors.
LeT commanders Abu Dujana and Arif Nabi Dar were killed in the fierce encounter with the security forces. One civilian was also killed. Three terrorists were believed to be trapped in a residential complex in Hakripora village. “Quantum of fire from terrorists’ side was very heavy. Terrorists Abu Dujana and Arif were killed. There is one civilian casualty. In spite of our warnings and requests, people on behest of terrorists tend to come in between encounter and that is how they get injured or killed,” Khan added.
