Soldier martyred in Kupwara encounter; civilian killed

Minor killed, 4 injured in blast

STATE TIMES NEWS
Srinagar: A soldier was martyred on Wednesday in an encounter with terrorists in a forest area while a civilian is reported to have been killed in Kupwara district.
Security forces launched an operation in Kandi forest area of Kupwara after an Army patrol was fired upon by terrorists, an Army official said.
He said a gunbattle broke out between the two sides in which one soldier was critically injured.
The jawan was evacuated to an army hospital where he succumbed to injuries.
The operation was in progress when last reports came in, he added.
According to a Srinagar based news agency, a youth was killed after forces opened fire on protestors in Trehgam of district Kupwara. The killing has triggered massive protests in the area.
Quoting an unnamed police officer, the agency reported that the forces opened fire after youth pelted stones on them. The slain stone- thrower has been identified as Khalif Gafar Malik son of Abdul Gafar resident of Bunpora Trehgam.
Meanwhile, a minor boy was killed and four children were injured in a blast inside a residential compound in Shopian district, the police said.
The explosion took place in the residential compound of Khursheed Ahmad Sheikh at Meemandar in Shopian district this afternoon, resulting in injuries to five children, all aged between six and eight years, a police officer said.
The children were rushed to a hospital, where one of them, Salik Iqbal Sheikh, was declared brought dead, he added.
The remaining four include three boys and a girl.
They are undergoing treatment and condition of three is stated to be critical, the police officer said.
Initial investigations suggest that the children were fiddling with the explosive when it exploded, he said.
An investigation is underway to ascertain the nature of the explosive and how it reached the residential compound.