Tral encounter ends, body of Zakir Musa handed over to family

Srinagar, May 24: An encounter, which ensued between militants and security forces on Thursday night in Tral area of Pulwama district of south Kashmir, ended on Friday morning after over 12 hours with the killing of chief of Ansar Gazwatul Hind Zakir Musa.

Security forces said it was major success as Musa was most wanted militant carrying a reward of Rs 15 lakhs on his head.

Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) top commander Burhan Wani was also killed in the same area in July 2016 which later evoked valley wide protests and clashes for several months in which over 100 persons were killed in security force action. Later, over hundred young boys joined militancy.

Body of Musa was handed over to his family members and all roads leading to his native village Noorpora Tral have been sealed to prevent people from adjoining areas to assemble there. Curfew-like restrictions have been imposed in Tral and other parts of Pulwama district to prevent demonstrations.

A defence ministry spokesman Col Rajesh Kalia said on Friday that encounter has ended and body of militant Musa besides war-like stores were recovered.

However, a police spokesman urged people not to venture in the encounter area till it is declared safe.

Giving details about the operation, official sources told UNI that on a tip-off about the presence of militants, troops of Rashtriya Rifles (RR), Special Operation Group (SOG) of Jammu and Kashmir police and CRPF launched a joint search operation at Dadsar, Tral, in Pulwama at 1700 hrs on Thursday. However, when the security forces were moving towards a particular house in the area, the militants hiding there opened fire, they said, adding that fire was returned ensuing in an encounter.

The internet service was suspended in Pulwama to prevent spread of rumours.

The Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, announced closure of all educational institutions after news on social media that Musa was trapped in the house.

Sources said the house from where Musa was firing was blasted by the security forces and firing stopped late last night. However, when the security forces launched searches in the damaged house, Musa suddenly appeared and started firing, sources said, adding that in the return fire, he was killed around 0600 hrs.

The body was taken to police station Awantipora and later handed over to his family.

Large number of people of Noorpora and adjoining areas have assembled at the house of Musa. However, large number of security forces and state police personnel have been deployed and all roads leading to Noorpora, Tral, have been closed with barbed wire.

Curfew-like restrictions have been imposed elsewhere in the Pulwama to prevent demonstrations and clashes.