Budgam Encounter Ends After Terrorist Killed, 3 Civilians Also Lose Life

Srinagar: At least three civilians were killed in security forces' action against protestors near an encounter site in Budgam district in Kashmir during an anti-militancy operation which ended with the killing of a terrorist on Tuesday.

"One militant has been killed and a weapon has been recovered from the scene of the encounter," an army official said.

Acting on specific information about presence of militants, security forces surrounded Durbugh village. (CNN-News18 TV grab)

The encounter has ended, a police official said adding that one para trooper also sustained injuries.

Three civilians -- all young men in their twenties -- were killed while 18 others were injured in security forces' retaliatory action against a large number of protestors who pelted stones on the law enforcing personnel allegedly in a vain bid to help the holed up militant escape.

As the security forces closed in on the house where the militants were hiding, they were fired upon, sparking of the gunfight. (CNN-News18 TV grab)

Protests erupted in the area during the gunfight. (CNN-News18 TV grab)

Security forces launched a cordon and search operation in Durbugh area of Chadoora in the wee hours following information about the presence of militants in the area, a police official said. He said the search operation turned into a gunbattle after the militant opened firing on security forces. The slain civilians have been identified as Zahid Dar, Saqib Ahmad and Ishfaq Ahmad Wani.

All of them had firearm injuries, the official said. Clashes between protestors and security forces were going on till reports last came in, he added.

Smoke billows from a house after gunfight between terrorists and Security forces in Kashmir's Budgam district. (CNN-News18 TV grab)

The trend of civilians assembling near encounter sites and engaging security forces in clashes emerged last year.

It has continued even after Army Chief Bipin Rawat warned the youth against interfering in anti-militancy operations and the state administration imposing Section 144 within three kilometre radius of the encounter site.

- With Inputs from PTI