Unknown gunmen shot a youngster in south Kashmir’s Kulgam district on Sunday evening while a commanding officer and five soldiers of Army were wounded in a prolonged counterinsurgency operation in Panar forest area of north Kashmir’s Bandipora district, official sources said.

They said that unknown assailants opened fire on a youngster identified as Mohammad Iqbal Kawa at Kelam village of south Kashmir’s Kulgam district late on Sunday evening. He was immediately evacuated to Anantnsy hospital where he succumbed to injuries.

Sources said that Commanding Officer (CO) of 14 Rashtriya Rifles and five other soldiers suffered injuries during a prolonged encounter and combing operation in Bandipora forests. The wounded soldiers were evacuated to army’s 92 base hospital in Srinagar.

A massive operation is underway in the forests since June 9 when the troops intercepted the group of militants at Raynar forests adjacent to Panar. The encounter too a bloody turn on June 14 when two unidentified militants and an army soldier were killed in heavy exchange of fire.

Sources said reinforcements of para commandos were called to the operation site.

A defence spokesman in Srinagar, however, denied that soldiers have been injured in the ongoing operation.

In another incident an explosion took place in a local park at Manasbal health resort in Bandipora district causing injuries to five persons. Police said it was a low intensity blast that caused injuries to five persons who were referred to hospital and were stable.

Courtesy: The Pioneer, Monday, 18 June 2018 | Khursheed Wani | Srinagar