One dead, 3 civilians injured in J&K clash (Lead)

Srinagar May 2 (IANS) A civilian died while three others were injured on Wednesday in clashes with the security forces near a gunfight site in Jammu and Kashmir s Shopian district police said.

Police said security forces laid cordon around Turkawangam village in Shopian following information about the presence of a group of militants there but came under fire from the hiding militants sparking a gunfight.

"At this youth resorted to heavy stone pelting on the security forces to break the cordon. Tear smoke shells and pellets were used to quell the protests " a police officer said.

Of the four injured civilians brought one was already dead said the Medical Superintendent at Shopian District Hospital adding the dead youth was immediately taken back by the people who had brought him saying he belonged to Pinjura village.

Inayat another youth who was critically injured has been shifted to a hospital in Srinagar.

Internet services have been snapped in south Kashmir again as security sources said top militant commander Saddam Paddar is among the holed-up militants where the gunfight is still on.

--IANS
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