Four militants and a civilian were killed and three army personnel were injured in three separate across Kashmir Valley. Three militants and a teenage civilian were killed in an encounter and subsequent protests in Pulwama district of south Kashmir.

Another militant was killed in an encounter in Kupwara district of northern Kashmir and militants lobbed a grenade at an Army patrol injuring three army personnel in Shopian district of southern Kashmir.

In Pulwama’s Chatpora village, SoG of J&K police, Army and CRPF acting on a tip off regarding presence of militants, launched a joint crackdown on Friday afternoon. During the search operation, militants opened the fire triggering an encounter. Later J&K police chief S P Vaid confirmed that three militants were killed at the encounter spot.

The identity of the slain militants was yet to be ascertained. As soon as the news of encounter spread locals started protests near the encounter site, during which several civilians were injured. A teenage boy killed during the protests was identified as Faizan Ahmad Khan of Pampore. In another encounter, J&K police officials informed that armed forces and militants exchanged fire at Tunga Top- the upper belt of Kachama forests in Kupwara district of northern Kashmir.

Later, the armed forces launched search operation in the area and claimed to have recovered body of one militant along with a Kalashnikov rifle.