Day after encounter, protests erupt in Kashmir

Srinagar, Feb 23: People on Feb 23 took to streets and pelted stones on security forces at several places of Kashmir, including Pampore where a 48-hour gunbattle between three terrorists and army ended on Feb 22.

The protests and clashes were reported from Anantnag, Kulgam and Shopian districts besides Pulwama district where Pampore is located, and shops and business establishments remained closed in several parts over the killing of the terrorists, officials said.

The gunbattle left five securitymen, including two Army Captains, dead along with three terrorists who were holed up inside the Jammu and Kashmir Entrepreneurship Building (JKEDI) building located along the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway.

Even when the encounter was underway, hundreds of people in Pampore tried to march towards the site yesterday but were prevented by the security forces who used force to disperse them.

Today, the protests again erupted with the mobs indulging in stone-pelting on police and paramilitary forces who had been deployed in strength in the sensitive areas including district headquarters of Anantnag, Pulwama, Kulgam and Shopian to maintain law and order, officials said.

They said police fired teargas shells and used batons to chase away the protesters at Pampore, Barsoo in Awantipora and Anantnag town but there was no report of any casualty.

The protesters were demanding bodies of the slain militants for identification, the officials said, adding special prayers in absentia were also offered for the ultras at Tral and Samboora in Pulwama district.

Police said all the three militants were foreigners and were buried in Uri sector, which is far away from the encounter site and the other end of Kashmir Valley. A civilian employee of the JKEDI also lost his life during the operation.

PTI