Kulgam: Militants’ visit to slain associate’s house triggers CASO

Srinagar, July 23: At least 26 people were injured, one of them critically, in clashes with the government
forces during a cordon-and-search-operation (CASO) in Lone Mohalla area of Khudwani in south Kashmir’s
Kulgam district on Monday minutes after a few militants visited the house of their slain counterpart at
nearby Redwani area.
Reports said that youth took to streets and clashed with the forces which had launched a CASO in Khudwani
following inputs about the presence of militants.
They said that forces fired tear gas and pellets to chase away the protesters who were trying to disrupt the
search operation.
A teenager Raqib Ahmad Wagay was hit by a tear gas shell in his head was shifted to district hospital
Anantnag where from he was referred to Srinagar for specialized treatment, said a health official.
Sources at sub-district hospital Qaimoh confirmed that twenty-five persons with pellet injuries were brought
to the facility for treatment. Six with pellet injuries in eyes were referred to district hospital Anantnag, they
said.
A shutdown was being observed in the village against the killings of three militants in a gunfight in Wani
mohalla yesterday.
A viral video purportedly shot before the CASO on Monday showed a group of militants coming out of the
house of slain militant Suhail Dar, who was killed in an encounter in Khudwani on Sunday.
Among others, the video also captures militant Naveed Jatt, coming out of his house while firing some
rounds in the air from his weapon.
Soon after, the government forces cordoned the area and launched a massive search operation which
eventually triggered clashes between them and the residents.