Six civilians and an Army deserter was among the three terrorists of Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) outfit killed during an encounter on Saturday in Kharpora Sirnoo area of South Kashmir’s Pulwama district.
An Army jawan was also killed. The total death toll during the encounter has reached 10.
Two soldiers were injured during the encounter and one of them reportedly succumbed in the military hospital.
A senior Police officer said that three terrorists were killed in a brief exchange of firing with security forces. Identity of killed terrorists was being ascertained.
One among the slain terrorists is an Army deserter Zahoor Thoker. He had last year deserted the 173 battalion of the Territorial Army with a service rifle from Barmulla district.
Reports said that six civilians were killed in clashes with security forces at the encounter spot. Two of them have been identified as Amir Ahmad Palla and Abid Hussain Lone.
The police resorted to teargassing and firing in the air to chase away a mob that indulged in stone pelting while the security forces were engaged in the encounter.
A joint team of the Army, CRPF and J&K Police had cordoned the area following inputs about presence of terrorists. The encounter started as the security forces advanced towards the place where they were hiding.
Reacting to the incident, former chief minister Omar Abdullah, in a tweet described it as “another bloodsoaked weekend in Kashmir”