Two civilians were also killed at encounter sites.

Five militants, two civilians and two soldiers were killed in two separate fierce encounters in south Kashmir on Thursday.

According to the police, three Jaish-e-Muhammad (JeM) militants were killed during a cordon and search operation in Pulwama’s Dalipora area around 2 a.m.

“As the security forces were evacuating civilians from the neighbourhood of the target house, the hiding militants fired indiscriminately. An Army jawan, Sepoy Sandeep, and civilian Rayees Dar were killed,” said the police. Dar’s brother was also injured in the exchange of fire. Police identified the slain militants as Naseer Pandith from Pulwama’s Kareemabad, Umar Mir from Shopian and a Pakistani named Khalid.

Police said Pandith was facing charges of planning and executing attacks and killing a policeman. “Khalid, operating as a ‘commander,’ was also involved in several attacks on security establishments,” police said.

In a separate gunfight, security forces killed two militants in the afternoon at Shopian’s Handew village. Ishtaq Ahmad Bhat, a civilian, was also found dead at the encounter site.

An Army soldier was injured and was taken to the Army’s 92 Base Hospital in Badamibagh, Srinagar.

Succumb to injuries

Meanwhile, a Peoples Democratic Party worker and a protester, who were injured in two separate incidents, succumbed in Srinagar on Thursday.

The PDP activist Irfan Ahmad, injured in suspected militants’ firing on May 8 at Shopian’s Zainapora area, died at Srinagar’s Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences early in the morning. “Ahmad was just 21, a first time voter and an upcoming cricketer. Killing someone for their political affiliation is unacceptable. His martyrdom won’t be in vain,” said PDP president Mehbooba Mufti.

Residents look on during the funeral procession of Jaish-e-Mohammed militant Naseer Pandith at Pulwama in Jammu and Kashmir on May 16, 2019. | Photo Credit: AFP

Arshid Hussain Dar, 23, who was injured in security forces’ action on May 8 during a demonstration to protest the ‘rape’ of a three-year-old minor, also succumbed to his injuries in the hospital. Dar had suffered multiple injuries in the skull and damage to both his eyes, according to the hospital.

“Dar is unambiguously a victim of excessive targeted brutality by the police. No excuses. Hope someone seeks answers,” said Peoples Conference chief Sajad Lone.

Separatist amalgam Joint Resistance Leaders, comprising Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Yasin Malik, called for a shutdown on Friday to protest the civilian deaths in the Valley and Chenab “even during the holy month of Ramadan.”