A Kashmiri woman wails near the body of a civilian during his funeral at Prichoo village of Pulwama district, about 45 km south of Srinagar, the summer capital of Indian-controlled Kashmir, Dec. 15, 2018. Three militants including a commander, a trooper and seven civilians were killed Saturday in fierce gunfight and subsequent clashes between the militants and government forces in restive Indian-controlled Kashmir, officials said. (Xinhua/Javed Dar)
by Peerzada Arshad Hamid
SRINAGAR, Indian-controlled Kashmir, Dec. 15 (Xinhua) -- Three militants including a commander, a trooper and seven civilians were killed Saturday in fierce gunfight and subsequent clashes between the militants and government forces in restive Indian-controlled Kashmir, officials said.
The gunfight erupted at village Kharpora-Sirno in Pulwama district, about 35 km south of Srinagar city, the summer capital of Indian-controlled Kashmir.
"Three militants were killed today in a fierce gunfight with army and police in village Sirno of Pulwama," an Indian army spokesman said. "One trooper was also killed fighting these militants."
The identity of slain militants was being ascertained, however police said of them one was a local commander.
Police said the village was cordoned off early on Saturday morning following specific intelligence information suggesting presence of militants.
Officials said no sooner the gunfight began local residents took to roads, shouting pro-freedom and anti-India slogans. The protesters clashed with government forces by throwing rocks and brickbats on them in a bid to end cordon and help the holed up militants to escape, police said.
Police fired dozens of tear smoke shells, warning shots and used pellets to chase the protesters.
"Seven civilians were brought dead to the hospital and all of them had fire arm wounds," a health official posted in Pulwama hospital said. "Besides this 20 other civilians were brought here in injured condition."
People assembling at gunfight sites in support of militants and attacking government forces with stones has evolved as a new phenomenon of resistance in the region during recent years. Despite reprimand from police and army to stay away from gunfight sites, people continue to ignore calls and readily defy restrictions.
Authorities have snapped mobile internet services in Kashmir province including the Srinagar city and limited the speed of broadband internet, fearing it would mobolize youth to stage anti-India protests.
Locals said the situation was tense in Pulwama and restrictions have been imposed in the town to prevent further clashes. However, the clashes were going on at several places in the district until last reports poured in.
The region's separatist groups have called for a three-day shutdown and mourning in the region against the Saturday's killings in Pulwama.
"From today onwards for three days mourning and complete protest strike will be observed all across," a senior separatist leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq in a statement said.
The Joint Resistance Leadership (JRL) has called for a march to Badamibagh cantonment, the headquarters of the Indian army in Srinagar on Monday.
Anti-India sentiment runs deep in the psyche of majority of Kashmiris. Irate residents often take to roads and clash with police. The youth throw stones and brickbats on contingents of government forces, who respond by firing tear smoke shells, pellets and bullets, which often proves fatal.
Militant groups opposing New Delhi's rule are engaged in a guerilla war with Indian troops in the region since 1989. Gunfight between the two sides takes place intermittently.
Kashmir, the Himalayan region 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.
