Soldier killed in ongoing Kashmir gunfight

An Indian soldier was killed and a civilian injured on Monday in an ongoing gunfight between the security forces and militants in Jammu and Kashmir.

According to police a soldier identified as Sham Sunder of 44 Rashtriya Rifles was killed during the encounter in Aglar village of Pulwama district in south Kashmir.

A civilian identified as Tariq Ahmad sustained a bullet injury during simultaneous clashes between protesting civilians and the security forces near the encounter site. The protesters were trying to disrupt the operation against the holed up militants.

Police said the injured civilian was shifted to hospital and reinforcements have been rushed to the area to augment the strength of the security forces engaged in the gunfight.

Following special intelligence inputs troops of the Rashtriya Rifles, state police and the Central Reserve Police Force had surrounded Aglar village on Monday evening.

As the security forces closed in on the hiding militants, they were fired at, triggering the gunfight which was on till the last reports, police added.

Meanwhile, Internet facility in Pulwama district has been suspended to check the spread of rumours in the area.- IANS