2 civilians killed in Kashmir firing

Two people, including a young woman, were killed and more than a dozen injured in alleged security forces firing in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district on Friday after clashes erupted during an encounter between militants and the Army in the area.

Reports said clashes broke out following an encounter between militants and security forces at Khanday Mohalla, Kakapora, 28 kms from here, in which a local militant, identified as Adil Ahmad Wagay was killed.

While the police claim that 19-year-old Danish Farooq was killed during protests and the woman, who has been identified as 22-year-old Shaista Hameed, was killed in the cross firing between holed up militant and security forces, eyewitnesses belie the claims.

The locals alleged that security forces started firing indiscriminately after protests in the area and deliberately targeted the civilians. Bilal Ahmad, an eyewitness told Deccan Herald that they (forces) didn’t even spare women. “Both Shaista and Danish were killed in forces firing. The youth were protesting near the encounter site when security forces resorted to indiscriminate firing toward the protesters.

Danish had received bullets in his head and chest,” he said. Ahmad said Shaista was sitting on the veranda of her home when a bullet hit her. “She was shifted to the district hospital Pulwama where doctors declared her brought dead.”

An official at sub district hospital Pampore told Deccan Herald that 14 injured were brought to the hospital. “Danish was brought dead while two other injured had bullet injuries in abdomen and they were referred to SMHS. Others have pellet injuries, out of which few were referred to Srinagar hospitals and rest of them were discharged after treatment,” block medical officer (BMO) Pampore, Dr Showkat Ahmad told reporters.