Indian army troopers shout slogans as they walk to their base camp after a gunfight in village Brinthi-Batpora near Dailgam of Anantnag district, about 60 km south of Srinagar city, the summer capital of Indian-controlled Kashmir, July 1, 2017. Two civilians including a woman were killed and over a dozen others wounded Saturday as government forces gunned down two militants in a gunfight in restive Indian-controlled Kashmir, officials said. (Xinhua/Javed Dar)
by Peerzada Arshad Hamid
SRINAGAR, Indian-controlled Kashmir, July 1 (Xinhua) --Two civilians including a woman were killed and over a dozen others wounded Saturday as government forces gunned down two militants in a gunfight in restive Indian-controlled Kashmir, officials said.
The gunfight and clashes erupted at village Brinthi-Batpora near Dailgam of Anantnag district, about 60 km south of Srinagar city, the summer capital of Indian-controlled Kashmir.
The standoff in the village began after contingents of Indian police and troops cordoned off the village during morning hours.
"Two militants including a commander of Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) were killed today in a gunfight at village Brinthi-Batpora," a police official posted in Anantnag told Xinhua. "Two civilians, a woman and a young man, were also killed during the cross-firing."
The government forces, according to police, did not suffer any damage in the gunfight.
Police officials have identified the slain commander as Bashir Ahmad Wani alias Bashir Lashkari.
Police chief Shesh Paul Vaid in the region told media Lashkari was involved in the killing of six policemen including an officer in the district last month.
Reports said no sooner the news about the siege spread in the village, dozens of youth took to the streets shouting pro-freedom and anti-India slogans, besides hurling stones and brickbats on government forces in a bid to help militants break through the cordon.
Locals said the government forces fired tear gas shells and bullets to scare away the protesters, during which two people were killed and several others wounded.
According to locals, several men and women rushed to the house where the militants were present and demanded safe passage for them.
A police statement, however, accused militants of holding civilians as human shields and said civilians were killed in crossfire.
"We rescued 17 civilians ahead of gunfight," a police spokesman said.
Shortly after over a dozen civilians came out of the house, a gunfight triggered, which culminated with the killing of two militants.
Authorities blocked internet and cellphone services in the district, fearing escalation in tempers over civilian killings.
Meanwhile, thousands of people are gathering in the village to mourn the killings of civilians and slain militants.
Indian-controlled Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti has expressed grief over the death of two civilians and appealed people to keep away from the points of conflagration so that precious human lives are not lost.
"We in Jammu and Kashmir understand better what the ordeal of violence is, as it has been our fate to live through and survive its frightening and devouring hazards," Mufti said. "This gory era must end now for the sake of our future generations."
People assembling at gunfight sites in support of militants and attacking the government forces with stones has evolved as a new phenomenon of resistance in the region. Despite reprimand from police and army to stay away from gunfight sites, people continue to ignore calls and readily defy restrictions.
The civilian killing is likely to fuel further protests in the region.
Last month, two civilians including a teenager were killed and several others wounded during the clashes that erupted in a bid to break cordon and help local militants escape at village Aarwani in the district.
A separatist movement and guerrilla war challenging New Delhi's rule is going on in Indian-controlled Kashmir since 1989.
Kashmir, divided between India and Pakistan, is claimed by both in full. Since their independence from Britain, the two countries have fought three wars, two exclusively over Kashmir.
