Six civilians, one soldier and three militants were killed and approximately 12 civilians were injured in an encounter in Sirnoo village of Pulwama, Jammu and Kashmir, today.
The injured were rushed to hospitals in South Kashmir and Srinagar and are undergoing treatment.
The gunbattle started in Sirnoo village early this morning, during protests by the residents of Sirnoo village. The fight broke out between the security officials and the militants after the officials found 2 to 3 militants hiding in an orchard in Sirnoo village.
The deceased civilians were identified as Shahbaz Ali, Suhail Ahmed, Liyaqat Ahmad, Amir Ahmad Palla and Abid Hussain Lone. One civilian has still not been identified.
The situation of repeated attacks in Jammu and Kashmir took a political turn with the Government of Jammu and Kashmir blaming the authorities for the terrorist attacks.
Mehbooba Mufti and Omar Abdullah, political leaders of Jammu and Kashmir, took to Twitter and expressed their anger over the violence.
How long are we going to shoulder the coffins of our youngsters? So many civilians killed today post encounter in Pulwama. No country can win a war by killing its own people. I strongly condemn these killings , and once again appeal for efforts , to stop this blood bath .
— Mehbooba Mufti (@MehboobaMufti) December 15, 2018
6 civilians killed and numerous more injured, many critically. Any way you look at it this was a badly executed encounter. Protests around encounter sites are now the norm not the exception. Why are we unable to learn how to handle them better?
— Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) December 15, 2018
Security officials cordoned off the area and launched search operations. Internet services were in the area. Railway services between Kashmir Valley and Banihal town also stand cancelled for the time being.
