Three civilians, soldier killed in Kashmir (Third Lead)

An Indian soldier and three civilians were killed on Wednesday as a gunfight between security forces and militants in Jammu and Kashmir triggered violent street protests.

Doctors said a civilian, Faisal Elahi, 15, was brought to a hospital in Qaimoh town in Kulgam district and he succumbed to critical bullet injuries.

Earlier, two other civilians, Bilal Ahmad Dar, 17, and Sharjeel Sheikh 28, injured during clashes between protesters and security forces at Wani Mohalla in Khudwani area of Kulgam had died.

Police said a soldier was killed and two other security personnel were injured on Wednesday when militants holed up inside a house started firing at security personnel closing in on them.

As the fighting raged, people poured out of their homes and pelted stones at the security forces even as two-to-three militants from the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) reportedly remained holed up inside the house.

Authorities have ordered closure of all schools and colleges in Kulgam and Internet services have been suspended in south Kashmir.

Clashes also erupted on Wednesday between students and security personnel in north Kashmir's Sopore town as news about the deaths of civilians in Kulgam spread.

Student protests also rocked Kashmir University in Srinagar and Bandipora town, also in north Kashmir.

--IANS

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