CRPF trooper killed, civilian injured in Pulwama gunfight; militants escape

Authorities have suspended mobile internet services in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama to check spread of rumours. Here are the latest available information on the Pulwama encounter

A Central Reserve Police Force ( CRPF) trooper was killed and a civilian injured in a gunfight between a group of militants and the security forces in the wee hours on Saturday in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama district, police said.

Constable Mandeep Kumar of 182 battalion of the Central Reserve Police Force, lost his life in the gun battle with four to six militants who were holed up in a house in Wagum village.

The house owner was injured in the exchange of fire, having received bullet wounds on his shoulder. He was said to be out of danger.

"As soon as the search party approached the suspect's house, militants hiding inside fired indiscriminately due to which the house owner Bashir Ahmad sustained an injury and is stated to be stable now," the official said.

The gunfight had started after a joined team of the Rashtriya Rifles, Special Operations Group of state police and the paramilitary troop launched a search and flush out operation, following information of militant presence.

As the security forces tightened the cordon, hiding militants fired at them triggering the encounter.

Scattered incidents of stone pelting was reported in the vicinity. Fearing an escalation the security forces abandoned the cordon and search operation in the area.

"In order to avoid civilian casualties, the security forces used extreme restrain," a police officer said, adding the militants taking advantage of the darkness managed to escape.

Authorities have suspended mobile Internet services in Pulwama to check spread of rumours. Rail services between Baramulla town and Bannihal town of Jammu region have also been suspended for the day.

On Friday, militants attacked a guard post in Budgam district of Jammu and Kashmir, triggering a gunfight with security forces in which a policeman was critically injured.

A police official said the militant attack on the post at Wardwan in Soibug area of central Kashmir was successfully repulsed by the police.

However, he said, a policeman was critically injured and has been admitted to a hospital.

There have been several such attacks recently when militants attempted to snatch rifles from the policemen on duty.