Aakash Hassan
Srinagar: Two militants were killed in the encounter that raged in the wee hours on Thursday in Padgampora area of Pulwama here in southern part of Kashmir, locals and officials said.
The two militates have been identified as Mohammad Shafi alias Ahsan, a resident of Banderpora and Jahangir, alias Saifullah, a resident of Koil, of Pulwama district.
Both were active for more than a year and were affiliated with LeT, sources said.
The encounter started when forces from 130 Battalion CRPF, 55 Rashtriya Rifles and SOG Pulwama cordoned off a few residential houses in the dead of night and started search operation.
Forces came under heavy firing from the militants raging encounter, police officials said.
As the news of gunfight spread, people in huge numbers turned up and started attacking forces with stones, in an attempt to break cordon and help militants flee.
Clashes soon erupted around the encounter site and forces restored to firing bullets, and teargas shells on the protesters.
In the clashes, a 16-year-old boy was hit by bullet resulting in his death. The deceased was identified as Amir Nazir Wani son of Nazir Ahmad Wani resident of Begumbagh Kakpora.
Several other people were also reported injured in the clashes.
In the encounter, eyewitness said, at least three residential have been raised to ground, completely or partially after forces blasted them using explosives.
The bodies of the two militants have been shifted to the police station Awantipura, where from they will be handed over to their families, police sources confirmed.
