In an explosion at the site after the gunfight ended on Sunday with the three militants being killed, five people were also killed, who rushed to a house where an encounter had taken place in Kashmir’s Kulgam district. Although there were instances of civilian deaths due to leftover explosives near encounter sites in Kashmir, it was for the first time in the recent past that such a high number of civilians were killed in such an incident. Three militants had been killed in the encounter in the house that started during an early morning cordon and search operation carried out by security forces in Laroo village of Kulgam. According to the police, once the firing stopped, local residents went too close to the encounter site before the security forces had time to check the area for explosives. A police spokesperson said that the civilians had been advised to stay away as police teams had to check the area for explosives once the fire near the encounter site was doused. He said that they didn’t listen and visited the spot immediately after the forces withdrew. Some explosive substance went off resulting in injuries to the civilians. Kulgam deputy commissioner Shamim Ahmad Wani later said that five people had died. Over 30 people were reported to have been injured in the blast. The ages of the dead identified as Ubaid Laway, Tajamul, Irshad Padder, Ozair Ahmad and Mansoor were not known. Mr. Wani also announced ex-gratia relief of Rs 1 lakh to the families of the dead civilians. Superintendent of police Kulgam, Harmeet Singh said that they left the area after retrieving bodies of three militants because the house was on fire. He said that the three militants who were dead, identified as Shahid Ahmad, Zubair and Ayaz Makroo were all locals belonging to Jasih-e-Mohammad outfit.