At least 50 persons were injured, four of them seriously in government forces action during clashes near encounter site at Kulgam village of south Kashmir on Wednesday.

The clashes ensued soon after the encounter broke out between militants and government forces at Tazipora area of Mohammad pora today pre-dawn hours.

50 youths suffered injuries after police and paramilitary CRPF used pellets, teargas shells and live ammunition to disperse the protesters, eyewitness and reports said.

The injured were shifted to PHC Mahmoodpora and 6 of them were taken to district hospital Kulgam for treatment.

CMO Kulgam, Dr Fazil Kochak stated that 50 injured persons were received at PHC Mohammedpora and 44 of them had minor injuries and are being treated at the health facility itself.

Six injured persons, he said have shifted to district hospital Kulgam.

The six injured have been identified as Nadeem Ahmad (pellet injury in left eye), Nawaz Ahmad (pellet injury in right eye), Adnan (pellet injury in left eye), Yawar Ahmad (bullet injury in abdomen), Mohsin Ahmad (pellet injury on body) and Basit Ahmad (pellet injury on both arms).

When contacted Medical Superintendent District Hospital Kulgam Dr Muzafar Zargar also confirmed to GNS that six injured persons have been received at the hospital.

He said that four among the six youth have been referred to SMHS Srinagar for advanced treatment. Those referred include Nadeem, Nawaz, Adnan, and Yawar.

Two others namely Mohsin and Basit are being treated in the hospital.

Earlier, the encounter broke out after a joint team of army’s 9 RR, SOG and CRPF launched a cordon-and-search operation at Tazipora following credible inputs about the presence of some militants, a police official said.

The search operation in the area is still underway, he said. (GNS)