Shopian again: Youth killed, many injured in clashes during gunfight

Srinagar, May 02: A youth was killed and at least ten other civilians injured in violent clashes during a gunfight that took place in Shopian district of south Kashmir on Wednesday
Official sources said that a joint team of army and SOG cordoned off Terkiwangam village following specific information about the presence of some militants in the area.
As the joint team of forces approached the suspected spot amid firing some warning shots, the militants, hiding in the area, opened fire, triggering off a gunfight.
Quoting a police officer, news agency GNS said the contact was established with a group of militants.
“The operation is going on in the area,” the news agency quoted the officer saying.
A large number of youth took to streets soon after the news about the encounter spread and pelted rocks on the forces.
The police and paramilitary CRPF used tear smoke shells, pellet guns, and live ammunition.
At least eleven youths suffered injuries, six of them with bullet wounds.
One of them, a teen identified as Umar Kumar (17) son of Abdul Ahad Kumar of Pinjura Shopian, succumbed to his injuries.
The injured were taken to a local hospital from where two of them—Inayat Abbas Malla and Javid Bashir Sheikh–were referred to Srinagar for specialized treatment.
However, police said that only one person suffered bullet injuries and identified as Inayat.
“In an ongoing encounter at Turkwangam Shopian one civilian namely Inayat sustained an injury in cross firing and is being treated at a hospital in Srinagar. Area under cordon,” the police tweeted.
The encounter was going on at the time of filing this report.
The authorities, meanwhile, had suspended the Internet services in south Kashmir parts following the gunfight.
Reports said Internet services were snapped in twin districts of Pulwama and Shopian.