Suffer biggest single-day toll; but 3 soldiers also martyred, two others die in 3 gunfights in Shopian, Anantnag

Terrorist groups received a major blow in their South Kashmir bastion as security forces shot dead at least 12 of them belonging to Hizbul Mujahideen and Lashkar-e-Tayyeba in three separate encounters in Shopian and Anantnag districts on Sunday.

Three soldiers and two civilians have also been killed in the gunfights and subsequent clashes near the encounter sites as people attempted to break cordons and help terrorists escape. Over a hundred civilians have been injured in the clashes, many of them hit with bullets or pellets in their eyes.

Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti has expressed grief over the deaths of civilians even the Joint Resistance Leadership (JRL), a grouping of top separatist leaders, called for shutdown on Monday.

The Army said at least two of the slain terrorists were involved in the killing of off-duty Army officer Lt Ummer Fayaz in May 2017 when he was abducted and subsequently killed in Imamsahib area of Shopian where he was attending wedding of his cousin.

“Today is a special day for the counter terrorist operation in the Valley for all our security forces,” General Officer Commanding of XV Corps Lt Gen AK Bhat told reporters at a Press conference at Awantipora headquarters of Victor Force, a counter-insurgency division operating in South Kashmir.

“..Most importantly we have killed two of the terrorists involved in the killing of Lt Ummer Fayaz in May. We have avenged his death,” Bhat said identifying the involved terrorists as Ishfaq Ahmad Malik and Riyaz Thokar.

Director General of Police Shesh Paul Vaid told reporters that seven local terrorists were killed in a single gunfight at Draggad village. Sources said the ultras had assembled in the village for a meeting. The security forces got a specific tip-off and cordoned the area leading to fierce gun battle.

Police said in a separate encounter at Peth Dialgam village in Anantnag district, a terrorist Rouf Khanday was killed while another ultra whose identity was not revealed surrendered his arms.

Security officials said the first anti-terror operation was launched in Peth Dialgam Anantnag around 10.30 pm on Saturday after an input about ultras presence. “Our SSP Anantnag made a special effort. He called the family members of the terrorist and exchanged talks with him for about 30 minutes to leave the weapons. But unfortunately, he did not (pay) heed to the advice of his family and instead fired. Police and forces had no option but to retaliate and he was killed. We caught other one alive without harming. I don’t think in any part of the world forces will be doing operation in this manner,” Vaid, flanked by Corps commander and a battery of counter-insurgency officers, said. The encounters in Shopian district, sources said, were launched around 12 am at Draggad and Kachdoora villages, 20 kilometres apart from each other.

The gunfights erupted as heavy contingents of the Army, CRPF and counter-insurgency police cordoned off the areas. A civilian, identified as Zubair Ahmad Bhat, was killed and over 50 others were injured after they tried to march towards the gunfight sites. Another civilian Mushtaq Ahmad Padroo received bullets near his house. Terrorists had reportedly taken positions inside Padroo’s house.

The Army said the operation at Kachdoora was difficult as nearly 13 civilians, including two children, had to be evacuated from the house where terrorists were hiding.

“We lost three of our jawans in this gunfight,” an Army officer said. “Three ultras were killed in it,” he said. The identity of terrorists in the gunfight could not be established. The slain terrorists in Draggad encounter were identified as Zubair Turray, Ishfaq Ahmad Malik, Yawar Itoo,

Nazim Ahmad Dar, Adil Ahmad Thoker, Ubaid Ahmad Malla and Riyaz Ahmad Thokar — all residents of Shopian district.

Turray was a top commander of Hizbul Mujahideen group, who escaped police custody last year to join the terror ranks.

Sources said that three civilians were killed and more than a hundred others have been injured in clashes with the security forces. The people attempted to storm the encounter sites. Several protesters were injured during funeral processions of the slain ultras.

Many critically injured protesters have been shifted to Srinagar hospitals. A civilian from Wokay village of Kulgam district Iqbal Manzoor was also killed in clashes.

Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti expressed grief over the death of two civilians during various security operations in Anantnag and Shopian districts. She sympathised with those injured during these operations, an official spokesman said.

The Chief Minister has also paid tributes to the three Army jawans who were killed during these operations.

The JRL, comprising separatist leaders Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Yasin Malik, called for two-day shutdown in the Valley on Sunday and Monday. The authorities placed the leaders under house-detention just two days after they were allowed to carry out their political activities.

The authorities of the University of Kashmir and the Central University of Kashmir on Sunday have decided to postpone all the exams scheduled on April 2, 2018.

In view of the prevailing law and order situation, the Minister for Education Syed Muhammad Altaf Bukhari has ordered the closure of all the schools and colleges in the Valley on April 2, sources said.

Courtesy: The Pioneer, Monday, 02 April 2018 | Khursheed Wani | Srinagar