Seven civilians among 11 killed in encounter, protest in Kashmir

Seven civilians died Saturday when security forces opened fire at an unruly mob that thronged the site of an encounter in south Kashmir's Pulwama district in which three terrorists and an army man were killed, police said.

The militants killed included army deserter Zahoor Ahmad Thoker, who belonged to Simoo village where the gunfight took place.

The Army laid siege around an isolated house in the middle of an orchard following an intelligence input about the presence of the militants.

After the initial contact with the militants, the security forces completed the operation in 90 minutes, killing all three.

The soldiers were taken by surprise as people started marching towards the encounter site from all directions with some of them trying to seize their weapons, police said.

A police spokesman said while the operation was going on, security forces had to resort to firing at the crowd that came dangerously close from different parts to the encounter site".

Those injured in the firing were rushed to hospital, where seven civilians "unfortunately" succumbed to their injuries, the spokesman said.

Unconfirmed reports put the number of civilians killed at eight.

Among those killed was a young Kashmiri man, who had recently travelled back to his hometown with his Indonesian wife and a three-month baby. The youth was also a part of the stone-throwing mob, police said.

About five more people have bullet injuries. Others who were admitted in the hospital are stated to be stable," the spokesman said.

Police again issued a general advisory, asking people to stay away from the encounter site and said there was significant danger to life there.

Political parties in Kashmir condemned the killings, saying Governor Satya Pal Malik-led administration has "failed" to secure people's lives.

Authorities suspended mobile internet services in most parts of Kashmir, including Srinagar, to prevent escalation in tension following the deaths.

Thoker had gone missing from an Army unit in north Kashmir's Baramulla district in July last year. He had decamped with his service rifle and three magazines, and joined the militant ranks.

Security forces said Thoker was involved in several killings in Pulwama district, including the abduction and murder of Rifleman Aurangzeb of 44 Rashtriya Rifles.

Aurangzeb was on his way back home on June 14 to celebrate Eid when terrorists abducted him.

Hours later, his bullet-riddled body was found at Gussu village, about 10 km from Kalampora in Pulwama district.

The identities of two other militants killed in Saturday's encounter were being ascertained.

"No probe enough to bring back the dead innocent civilians," Peoples Democratic Party president and former chief minister Mehbooba Mufti tweeted.

South Kashmir has been reeling under fear for the last 6 months. Is this what was expected from Gov rule?" she said, adding "no country can win a war by killing its own people."