Encounter in Kashmir; five terrorists and five civilians killed

Five terrorists and five civilians were killed in a gunfight and ensuing clashes with government forces in South Kashmir's Shopian districts on Sunday.

The gunfight broke out at Badigam village after army's 44 RR launched the cordon-and-search operation in the area.

Army's 23 Para Commandos, 34 RR, 3 RR, CRPF, and SOG rushed as reinforcements to the place of clashes.

In the initial firefight one SOG man, Anil Kumar and an army soldier of 44 RR were injured.

In the encounter, top Hizbul Mujahideen commander, a close associate of Burhan Wani, Saddam Padder and a Kashmir University assistant professor, who went missing on Friday, were killed in the encounter.

The slain included top Hizb commander Saddam Padder and the Kashmir University professor Muhammad Rafi Bhat and three others.

The involvement of Muhammad Rafi Bhat in militancy began sometime late afternoon on Friday and ended after he was trapped by security forces at Badigam in Shopian making him a terrorist with possibly the shortest active time in militancy in the state.

"I am sorry if I have hurt you," Rafi told his father before he was gunned down in an encounter

The security forces asked him to surrender but he denied. As the news of assistant professor's killing spread, former Chief Minister, Omer Abdulllah took to twitter, 'Professor's killing answer to those claiming jobs a solution to Kashmir issue.'

As soon as the gunfight began, several Kashmiri youth took to streets and started protesting. The government forces reacted by firing live ammunition, pellets and tear gas resulting in deaths of six civilians and several injured.

A youth, identified as Asif Ahmad Mir of Rohomoo Pulwama, was critically injured after suffering a bullet injury in his head. He was shifted to SMHS hospital in Srinagar where he succumbed to death.

The government has snapped internet in South Kashmir. The schools and colleges have been closed.