Guerrilla killed in Kashmir gunfight, mob torches vehicles

A separatist guerrilla was killed and a soldier injured in a gunfight Saturday in Pulwama district of Jammu and Kashmir, following which a protest erupted and an angry mob torched two police vehicles, officials said.

"Security forces including police, Rashtriya Rifles and the CRPF surrounded Aaripal (Tral) village in Pulwama district following specific information that a group of militants was hiding there," a police officer told IANS.

When the security forces zeroed in on a house where the militants were hiding, they came under heavy gunfire from the militants, resulting in injuries to a Rashtriya Rifles personnel.

The security forces retaliated and killed a militant belonging to the Jaish-e-Muhammad (JeM) outfit in the gun battle.

Following the killing, protests erupted in Aaripal village and a mob torched two police vehicles, an official said.

"Miscreants torched two police vehicles in Aaripal where a foreign terrorist was killed by security forces today. Police showed restraint while handling the mob and nobody was injured in the incident," a police officer said.