One security personnel and many civilians sustained injuries in the operation.

Three civilians were killed in an operation by security forces against protestors near an encounter site in Budgam district in Kashmir during an anti-militancy operation, which ended with the killing of the lone militant.

“One militant has been killed and a weapon has been recovered from the scene of the encounter,” an army official said.

The encounter has ended, a police official said adding that one para-military personnel sustained injuries.

Three civilians — all young men in their twenties — were killed while 18 others were injured in the security forces’ action as a large number of protestors pelted stones in an attempt to help the militant escape.

The security forces had launched a cordon-and-search operation in Durbugh area of Chadoora in the early hours on Tuesday following information about the presence of militants in the area, the police official said.

He said the search operation turned into a gunbattle after the militant opened firing on security forces.

The slain civilians have been identified as Zahid Dar, Saqib Ahmad and Ishfaq Ahmad Wani. All of them had firearm injuries, the official said.

Even after the death of the militant, clashes between protestors and security forces were still continuing when reports last came in, he added.

The trend of civilians assembling near encounter sites and engaging security forces in clashes emerged last year. It has continued even after Army Chief Bipin Rawat warned the youth against interfering in anti-militancy operations and the State administration imposing Section 144 within three kilometre radius of encounter sites.

Smoke emanating from a house where militants took refuge during a gun battle in Budgam district of Central Kashmir on Tuesday. | Photo Credit: Nissar Ahmad

Meanwhile, suspected militants opened fire targeting residence of a senior police officer in South Kashmir’s Kulgam district, in third such incident in the past three days.

No one was hurt in the attack, police said.

The ultras fired on the residence of Additional Superintendent of Police, Bandipora, Dawood Ayoub, at Khudwani in Kulgam late Tuesday night, police sources said.

They said there was no damage done in the firing incident and the militants escaped from the site.

On Sunday, suspected militants had attacked the ancestral residence of the state Minister Farooq Abdrabi in South Kashmir’s Anantnag District, injuring one policeman.

The day after, the ultras opened fire on the houses of ASI Dilbar Ahmad and Constable Reyaz Ahmad at Keegam in Shopian but no one was injured.