After Mehbooba Mufti, J&K deputy CM claims Wani's encounter was accident'

Srinagar: Echoing Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti’s comments over Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist Burhan Wani’s encounter, state Deputy Chief Minister Nirmal Singh on Saturday called the encounter an ‘accident’.

Explaining that the security forces did not know about Wani’s presence prior to the encounter, Singh said, “When the encounter took place, security personnel informed that 4 terrorists were killed, identification took place later.”

"If we would have known (Burhan Wani's encounter), we would have taken better precautionary measures," Singh added, saying that such operations would continue.

"It was a routine anti-terrorist operation. Such operations will continue. They are terrorists and will be dealt in such way only," Singh said.

On Thursday, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti had said that the security forces were not aware of Hizbul commander Wani's presence during the July 8 raid at his hideout at Kokernag in South Kashmir in which he was killed.

Mufti also indicated that the situation could have perhaps been controlled better had the security forces known about Wani's presence.

Protests broke out across Kashmir Valley on July 9, a day after Wani was killed in the encounter.

In the ensuing clashes between protesters and security forces, 47 persons, including two policemen, were killed and 5,500 were injured.