8 militants, minor held hostage killed in four gunfights in Valley

SRINAGAR: Eight militants, including three of Pakistani origin—two of whom who killed a 12-year-old boy held hostage by them, were gunned down in four separate encounters—one of them still going on-- with security forces which took place in Bandipora, Shopian and Baramulla districts during the span of 36 hours.

Six security personnel were injured in these operations, while 5 civilians and four cops sustained injuries in the stone-pelting that ensued near two of the encounter sites.

The operations started on Thursday when two Jaish-e-Mohammad militants were killed in a gunfight with security forces at Kalantara in Baramulla district, while three security force personnel-- two para commandos including an officer of Major rank and a soldier of 29 RR were injured--sustained injuries during the operation.

A police spokesman said while one of the slain militants was Amir Rasool, a resident of Sopore, the other slain ultra was a Pakistani national.

“DySP Headquarter along with three policemen and an ambulance driver was among two civilians injured in day-long clashes that erupted near the encounter site,” he added.

Another encounter broke in the Hajin area of Bandipora district on Thursday which ended on Friday.
“Two militants were killed in an overnight gunfight in the Hajin area. The operation started on Thursday but the security forces had to proceed with caution as the ultras had taken two civilians hostage,” the officials said.

While one civilian was rescued Thursday evening, the other -- a 12-year-old boy -- was killed by the militants, they said.

“Initially the terrorists kept two civilians as hostages. However police and security forces with the assistance of community members safely rescued one civilian Abdul Hameed--a 60 year old man.

“The 12-year-old boy Aatif Mir was kept hostage by the terrorist till the end and despite repeated requests by community members and police for his release, he was brutally killed by the terrorists and could not be rescued from the clutches of terrorists,” a police spokesman said.

“Terrorists then fired on the security forces who engaged them in an encounter after the civilians in the adjoining areas had been evacuated to safer places.

“In the ensuing encounter, 2 Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists were killed and the bodies were retrieved from the site of encounter. They were identified as Pakistani nationals, Ali and Hubaib," he said.

They were wanted by law for their complicity in a series of terror crimes including attacks on security force establishments and civilian atrocities. According to the police records they were also responsible for conspiring and executing many terror attacks in the area. Several terror crime cases were registered against them.
In the third encounter, two local Jaish-e-Mohammed (JEM) militants were killed in Shopian district.
The security forces launched a cordon-and-search operation in the Imamsahib area of Shopian in south Kashmir following information about the presence of militants there, an army official said.

He said the militants opened fire at the security forces, who retaliated, triggering a gunfight.

In the ensuing encounter, 2 terrorists were killed and the bodies were retrieved from the site of encounter.

The duo was identified as Showkat Ahmad Sheikh, a resident of Harmain Shopian and Yasir Ahmad Shah resident of Arhama Shopian.

“This group was responsible for the brutal killing of lady police official Khusboo Jan recently in Shopian,” police said.

“Showkat Ahmad Sheikh was involved in abduction and brutal killing of three police officials Nisar Ahmad Dhobi, Firdous Ahmad Kucchay and Kulwant Singh all residents of Shopian last year in 2018. As per police records, he was also involved in attacks on PS Shopian in 2018 in which one police official Saqib Mohi-ud-Din was killed. He was wanted by law for his involvement in several rifle snatching incidents reported across South Kashmir. He was also involved in conspiring and executing many terror attacks in the area. Several terror crime cases were registered against him,” a police spokesman added.
Near the encounter site, youth clashed with the security forces and pelted stone on them.

“One police official identified as Tariq Ahmad was injured in stone pelting and is undergoing treatment at hospital. Besides, 3 individuals also sustained injuries. They have been hospitalized for the treatment of their injuries and are stated to be stable,” police said.

The fourth gunfight broke out between militants and security personnel again in Baramulla, but this time in Sopore area.

The encounter had started on Thursday night when militants lobbed a grenade at a security forces party at Main Chowk Sopore in the north Kashmir district.

Two policemen, including the station house officer of Dangiwacha police station Muddasir Ahmad, sustained minor injuries in the explosion while security forces cordoned off the area and launched a search to nab the attackers.

The security forces engaged with the hiding militant near Warpora area of Sopore and intermittent exchange of fire continued throughout yesterday.

On Friday, two militants were killed even as the operation was in progress.

“Two militants have been killed in a gunfight so far and operation is in progress,” a police spokesman said.

The Army said that a search operation was on in the area.

Reports emerging from Sopore said that lights have been installed and cordon in the area is intact, at the time of filing this news.