In a military operation between Indian army and Kashmiri insurgents, three Kashmir fighters, one Indian army soldier were killed in Pulwama, Kashmir today morning. 7 protesting civilians were killed and 15 others injured and hospitalised.

The Indian army killed the persons they had planned to. One has been named as soldier-turned-insurgent Zahoor Ahmad Thokar. The identities of the other two have been not been disclosed, but they have been dubbed as t……….ts. One Indian soldier was also killed and two injured, but their names are not in public domain.

Braving the icy cold arctic conditions, the residents of Sirnoor village in Pulwama district of South Kashmir could not stay indoors when they heard gunshots around their neighbourhood. When it dawned on them that residents of the area had been killed in an “encounter” by the Indian armed forces, they forced their way into the area and protested.

When the army came across many innocent civilians who protested against them in the area, the army opened fire. The Indian army killed 7 civilians and injured nearly double the number with severe bullet wounds. It was officially labelled as a cordon and search operation, one of many that are carried out to hunt for insurgents who resist the Indian army as they fight a battle for freedom of Kashmir.

The Governor of Jammu and Kashmir Satya Pal Malik has not made any official statement though there is an innocuous regret note by the J & K police. Parliamentary political parties and representatives of revolutionary political groups have condemned the killings of innocents.

A three day statewide mourning has been called by the Joint Resistance Leadership and the Anjuman-e-Islamia Bhadarwah (AIB) has called for a complete shutdown in the Chenab valley.

AIB president Pervaiz Ahmed Sheikh termed the killings as “most heinous and opening up of a bloody war against unarmed civilians” in Kashmir. In a tweet, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq said, “Bullets and pellets rain! As Govt of India has decided to kill Kashmiris…..JRL and people will march towards Badami Bagh Army cantonment on Monday 17 Dec to ask GOI to kill all of us at one time rather than killing us daily.”

National Conference leader Omar Abdullah in a tweet said, “What a sad day, 11 people killed in Kashmir.” PDP President Mehbooba Mufti said, “no country can win a war killing its own people.”

In a statement issued in Chandigarh, Sikh organisation Dal Khalsa strongly condemned the use of deadly force against peaceful protestors and said that Indian security forces are treating Kashmiris as enemies. “We express deep condolences with families of victims of state atrocities and extend our solidarity to the resistance movement leadership.” said party president Harpal Singh Cheema.

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The party statement paid tributes to the civilians who fell prey to the bullets of the security forces and said that “the brave people of Kashmir are keeping the aspirations of freedom afloat with their blood and unflinching commitment.”