Hizb Comdr among 3 militants killed in Tral

Three militants of Hizbul Mujahideen including a top commander were killed in a gun battle at Chewa Ullar area of Tral in Awantipora of South Kashmir’s Pulwama district today. And in Bijbehara area of Anantnag, a CRPF man was martyred and a child was killed in a militant attack.

The operation was launched by police, 42 RR of Army and 180 Battalion of CRPF last evening when police received information about presence of militants in the area. The militants opened fire on the troops during the search operation of the area leading to a gun battle.
The operation was put on hold for the night and was resumed early today during which three militants of Hizbul Mujahideen were killed.
They have been identified as Mohammad Qasim Shah alias Jignu of Midoora Tral, Basit Ahmad Parray of Laribal Tral and Haris Manzoor Bhat of Koil Shikargah Tral. They had joined militancy on March 3 2017, May 27 2020 and April 25 2020 respectively. Qasim was son of Hurriyat Conference leader Ghulam Mohammad Shah.
Two AK-47 rifles were also recovered from their possession.
Tral which was once considered as a hot bed of militancy has less than half dozen local militants active now, none from Hizb.
The IGP said that there are now five local militants in the belt, among them three are with Jaish, one with Lashkar and one with Ansar Gazwatul Hind.
The top Hizb commanders who were killed since 2014 in Tral area include Aadil Khan, Burhan Muzzafar Wani, Subzar Bhat, Zakir Moosa who was part of Hizb but later floated Ansar Gazawatul Hind, Aaqib Molvi, Haamad Khan, Shakoor Laribal and Mohammad Qasim alias Jignu.
And a CRPF trooper was martyred in a militant attack in Bijbehara area in South Kashmir’s Anantnag district this afternoon while a 4-year-old boy also lost life in the shoot out.
Militants attacked 90 battalion CRPF near Padshae Bagh in Bijbehara area of Anantnag this afternoon. One CRPF personnel identified as Shymal Kumar and a 4-year-old boy Nihaan Bhat son of Mohammad Yaseen Bhat of Machoo Kulgam suffered critical injuries and were removed to hospital but succumbed to their injuries.
Both the CRPF personnel and the boy were brought dead to a nearby health facility. The militants fled after carrying out the attack. Security forces cordoned off the area to nab the attackers.

Courtesy: Daily Excelsior:  27th June, 2020