Government forces fired into protesters who had come to the rescue of a few militants the forces had cornered in a house in Turkiwangam village of Shopian district on Wednesday. A youth was killed and 30 others were injured in the firing.
The deceased, Umar Kumar, 17, of Pinjoora village of Shopian had a bullet injury in chest and was declared dead on arrival, a doctor at district hospital Shopian said.
He said five more youth with pellet injuries were being treated at the hospital.
Seventeen persons with pellet and three with bullet injuries were brought to Sub-District Hospital, Zainapora.
“Those with bullet injuries were referred to Srinagar hospitals,” the doctor said.
Two more bullet-hit persons were being treated at district hospital Anantnag. Inayat Ahmad Malla, 15, who suffered bullet injury near his throat, was shifted to the SMHS Hospital from district hospital Pulwama.
The details about the anti-militancy operation and the ensuing gunfight are hazy.
However, it was learnt that the militants hiding in the house opened fire on the approaching government forces. The militants are believed to have escaped after the brief exchange of fire.
While the firing was on, people from nearby localities rushed to the rescue of militants as many of them believed that Zeenat ul Islam, a top Hizb commander, was trapped in the area.
The people threw stones at the forces to distract their attention from the anti-militancy operation.
Islam, who hails from Sugan village, has been active in the militant ranks since early 2015. He had escaped during a cordon-and-search operation near his native village at Dragad- Sugan on April 1 along with four of his associates in which seven Hizb militants were killed.
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