5 militants killed in Shopian, clashes break out between civilians & forces

5 militants including a Kashmir University professor were killed in the encounter in Badigam in Shopian district of Jammu and Kashmir

"Stop firing... surrender for god's sake...nothing will come out of this," the SSP, Shopian is heard telling militants in a video posted by ANI on twitter.

Five terrorists were killed in an encounter on Sunday in the Shopian district of Jammu and Kashmir. They have been identified as Saddam Paddar -- a top Hizbul Mujahideen commander, Tawseef Sheikh, Molvi Bilal, Adil Ahmad and Muhammad Rafi Bhat -- the Kashmir University assistant professor, who according to police had joined militant ranks after he went missing last week.  

Clashes broke out between civilians and security forces in Shopian, Pulwama and other parts of South Kashmir following the encounter of five terrorists.

Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah tweeted: "Former Sadly this is also an answer to those who claim jobs & development are the solutions to the violence & alienation in Kashmir. This is another tragic development in a steady stream of tragedies in Kashmir."

Two fire service vehicles were torched by an angry crowd after the encounter, according to local news website Rising Kashmir

A soldier and a policeman were injured on Sunday in a gunfight between militants and security forces in Jammu and Kashmir's Shopian district.

The security forces including police, Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and Rashtriya Rifles (RR) surrounded Badigam village following a tip-off about the presence of militants.

"As the cordon was tightened, the holed-up militants fired triggering the gunfight," police sources added.

"The injured RR soldier and a constable have been shifted to a hospital."

Here are the top 10 developments around the Shopian encounter:

1. Five militants killed

J&K Police chief S P Vaid said that five bodies of terrorists were recovered after the encounter in Budgam. "Well done boys - Army/CRPF/J&K Police," the DGP tweeted.

2. Top Hizbul commander among 5 slain

A top Hizbul Mujahideen commander, Saddam Paddar, was killed too. He was a close associate of Burhan Wani, who was killed in July 2016 in a gunfight in Kokernag area in Anantnag district.

3. Missing professor joined terror ranks

Muhammad Rafi Bhat, an assistant professor in the sociology department of Kashmir University, was reported missing on Friday. He belonged to Chunduna village in Ganderbal district.

Earlier, the police took his mother, wife and brother to Badigam village to persuade Bhat to surrender.

There were angry protests in the university campus on Saturday as students asked the authorities to locate Bhat.

#WATCH Security forces appeal to terrorists to surrender during an going encounter in Shopian's Badigam. (Earlier visuals) #JammuAndKashmir pic.twitter.com/FdKUAsEHMl

— ANI (@ANI) May 6, 2018

4. Mobile internet suspended

Authorities have suspended mobile internet services across south Kashmir.

5. Civilian dies

A 17-year old boy succumbed to injuries sustained during clashes between protesters and security forces in Budgami. 

6. Kashmir University to be closed on Monday, Tuesday

Kashmir University authorities have decided to cancel exams on May 7 and keep the institute shut for two days as a precautionary measure any violence. 

7. Three militants killed on Saturday

Three militants, three civilians and a policeman were killed in fresh violence in the Kashmir Valley on Saturday as authorities imposed strict restrictions and snapped mobile phone Internet services following protests near a gunfight site in an old Srinagar neighbourhood.

8. Lashkar chief pays tribute

Lashkar-e-Toiba chief Mahmood Shah said that the 'sacrifices' won’t go in a vain. He also condemned the trampling of a civilian by a govt vehicle, according to Greater Kashmir.

9. Mufti condemned killings

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti today strongly condemned the killing of three civilians in the past 24 hours in various parts of the Valley.

10. Situation in J&K worse than in 1947

Jammu and Kashmir Congress chief Gulam Ahmed Mir on Wednesday condemned the attack on a school bus by stone-pelters in Shopian district, saying the situation in the Valley is at an "all-time worst since 1947".