Srinagar: A late night shootout at Shopian in south Kashmir resulted in the killing of two local terrorists and four civilians travelling in two vehicles. The Army says it retaliated after its check post was fired at from a car, in which the terrorists and their associates were killed.
While the body of one terrorist was found at the encounter site last night, the body of another was found six kilometres away in an orchard today morning. Both of them are linked to the Lashkar-e-Toiba, the army said.
The body of one of the four civilians killed -- Gowhar Ahmad Lone who was doing his master's in education -- was found in a car 200 metres from the encounter site. The bodies of the other three civilians were found in another car near the place of the encounter.
"Deeply distressed by more deaths of civilians caught in the crossfire in Shopian. My heartfelt condolences to the deceased's families," Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti said in a tweet.
While the army claims the four civilians killed were over ground workers (associates of the terrorists), their families insist they were innocents who had nothing to do with terrorism.
"It is a matter of investigation, there is a thin line between a civilian and an over ground worker, we don't have to be overly concerned about that. They were definitely civilians, it is a matter of investigation to what extent they were involved in supporting the terrorists," said Brigadier Harbir Singh.
Police say the investigation will reveal more.
"It's a fact that two terrorists have been killed. Their bodies have been recovered and, after identification, handed over to their family members. Four others persons have been killed. We will look into it - how they were killed, whether they were travelling with the militants, whether they were different -- this is part of investigation," said SP Vaid, the director general of police.
"They are not affiliated to any militant outfit, they have been killed deliberately," said Mohammad Khalil, a relative of one of the civilians killed.
There was an immediate fallout in the Kashmir valley. With separatists calling for a shutdown, schools that were scheduled to reopen today after winter vacations stayed shut, the Kashmir Administrative Service exam was postponed, mobile internet service slowed down and train service in the valley was suspended.
In January, three civilians were killed when army personnel fired at a stone-throwing mob in Shopian. The chief minister had ordered a magisterial probe into the incident.
While the body of one terrorist was found at the encounter site last night, the body of another was found six kilometres away in an orchard today morning. Both of them are linked to the Lashkar-e-Toiba, the army said.
The body of one of the four civilians killed -- Gowhar Ahmad Lone who was doing his master's in education -- was found in a car 200 metres from the encounter site. The bodies of the other three civilians were found in another car near the place of the encounter.
While the army claims the four civilians killed were over ground workers (associates of the terrorists), their families insist they were innocents who had nothing to do with terrorism.
Advertisement
Police say the investigation will reveal more.
Advertisement
"They are not affiliated to any militant outfit, they have been killed deliberately," said Mohammad Khalil, a relative of one of the civilians killed.
Advertisement
In January, three civilians were killed when army personnel fired at a stone-throwing mob in Shopian. The chief minister had ordered a magisterial probe into the incident.
COMMENTS
Advertisement
Teen Injured In Security Forces Firing Dies; Shopian Civilian Deaths Rise To 6 Supreme Court To Hear Father Of Army Major Accused In Kashmir Civilian Deaths Mobile Internet Blocked In Parts Of Kashmir, Tense Over Army Firing Deaths: 10 Points Parents Gave Names Of Interns, Doctors To CBI In Kolkata Horror: Sources Who Is Jasveen Sangha, "Ketamine Queen" Charged With Matthew Perry's Death How Extreme Weather Is Leading To Rise In Child Marriages In Pakistan Blinken Heading To Israel To Press Gaza Truce 'INDIA' Is with You Against "Injustice": Rahul Gandhi To Arvind Kejriwal "Strong Indications" Bangladesh Security Forces Used "Unnecessary" Force: UN Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.