SRINAGAR: Two militants of Lashkar-e-Toiba, including a top commander, were killed and another surrendered before security forces during a gunfight at Koimoh area of south Kashmir's Kulgam district on Sunday.
Soon, security forces and civilians clashed near the encounter site resulting in death of Yawar Ahmad Dar, 23, and injury to over a dozen men in uniform.
In the afternoon, the police, the CRPF and the Army launched combing and search operation in Chedar Ban area after receiving inputs about the presence of the militants. The security men moving towards a house came under attack from the militants. "In the ensuing four-hour long gunfight, two Lashkar militants were killed. A local militant surrendered before the security forces," the police said.
The slain militants were identified as Shakoor Ahmad Dar and Haider. Shakoor, a divisional commander of Lashkar, was involved in many attacks on security personnel and civilians, the police said.
Referring to the surrendered militant, Defence spokesman Colonel Rajesh Kalia said in line with the policy giving opportunity to local militants to shun the path of violence, security forces motivated a local youth to surrender. "It is once again reiterated that all local militants will be given an opportunity to surrender during operations," he said.
Meanwhile, Shahid Nazir Hajam, who was critically injured in the security forces firing on protestors near an encounter site at Khiram-Nowshera in south Kashmir's Anantnag district on Friday, died in a hospital.
Separatist leaders Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Mohammad Yasin Malik have called for shutdown in Kashmir on Monday to protest the civilian deaths.