Two Lashkar militants, two civilians killed in Pulwama encounter
SRINAGAR: Two Lashkar-e-Toiba militants and two civilians were killed in an encounter and subsequent protests on Thursday in Pulwama district of south Kashmir.
As the number of local militants has increased in past few years, especially after the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani in July last year, J&K police chief S P Vaid told ET that 214 militants mostly of HM and LeT, including around 80 foreigners listed with the government agencies are currently active in the state.
On Thursday, the militants killed at the spot have been identified as Jehangir Ahmad Ganaie, 23, who was active since 2015 and Muhammad Shafi Shergujri, 25 who was active since 2014. Police had brought the family members—wife and son--of Shergujri to the encounter spot to persuade him for surrender. But he refused and vowed to continue to fight till he was killed.
Hurriyat leaders Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umer and Yasin Malik, called for complete shutdown on Friday against the civilian killings and accused the government forces of targeting innocent, unarmed civilians and thus implementing the warning of Army chief Bipin Rawat. Law and order situation erupting at the encounter sites has emerged as a major problem for government forces, in wake of which, Rawat had stated that the civilian protestors obstructing encounters, would be treated as ‘over ground workers of militants’ dealt with ‘harshly’ and army could go ‘helter-skelter.’ J&K chief minister Mehbooba Mufti, also expressed grief over the civilian killing.
The civilians killed during the clashes were identified as Amir Nazir, 15 of Begambagh Pulwama, was shot allegedly during the protests and Jalal-ud-Din, 24, of Tahab, also died during the clashes. Both the civilians, doctors claim were brought dead to hospitals in Pulwama. Jalal, doctors at the hospital claim, could have died due to cardiac arrest or blunt force, during the clashes.
The encounter started around 6:00am, when a joint team of 55 Rashtriya Rifles, 130 battalion of CRPF and Special Operations Group of J&K police, cordoned Padgampora village of Awantipora, around 40 kms from Srinagar.
The authorities suspended Srinagar-Banihal train services as railway track passes nearby the encounter spot. Besides, locals from the nearby villages started marching towards the encounter site and clashes broke out at several places, which continued till the funeral prayers of the militants and civilians were offered late Thursday evening.
In a separate incident in Bandipora district of north Kashmir, one militant Mushtaq Ahmad Seer was killed near police station. According to Srinagar based defense spokesperson, one army personal was also injured during the incident.
According to official figures, 29 Armymen, including 15 in snow avalanches and 27 militants have been killed this year, till now. The police figures claim that around 100 locals have joined militant ranks in last year and 59 of them joined after Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani was killed along with his two colleagues on July 8 last year. More than 60 weapons have been snatched from police and other government forces in 2016.
As the number of local militants has increased in past few years, especially after the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani in July last year, J&K police chief S P Vaid told ET that 214 militants mostly of HM and LeT, including around 80 foreigners listed with the government agencies are currently active in the state.
On Thursday, the militants killed at the spot have been identified as Jehangir Ahmad Ganaie, 23, who was active since 2015 and Muhammad Shafi Shergujri, 25 who was active since 2014. Police had brought the family members—wife and son--of Shergujri to the encounter spot to persuade him for surrender. But he refused and vowed to continue to fight till he was killed.
Hurriyat leaders Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umer and Yasin Malik, called for complete shutdown on Friday against the civilian killings and accused the government forces of targeting innocent, unarmed civilians and thus implementing the warning of Army chief Bipin Rawat. Law and order situation erupting at the encounter sites has emerged as a major problem for government forces, in wake of which, Rawat had stated that the civilian protestors obstructing encounters, would be treated as ‘over ground workers of militants’ dealt with ‘harshly’ and army could go ‘helter-skelter.’ J&K chief minister Mehbooba Mufti, also expressed grief over the civilian killing.
The civilians killed during the clashes were identified as Amir Nazir, 15 of Begambagh Pulwama, was shot allegedly during the protests and Jalal-ud-Din, 24, of Tahab, also died during the clashes. Both the civilians, doctors claim were brought dead to hospitals in Pulwama. Jalal, doctors at the hospital claim, could have died due to cardiac arrest or blunt force, during the clashes.
The encounter started around 6:00am, when a joint team of 55 Rashtriya Rifles, 130 battalion of CRPF and Special Operations Group of J&K police, cordoned Padgampora village of Awantipora, around 40 kms from Srinagar.
The authorities suspended Srinagar-Banihal train services as railway track passes nearby the encounter spot. Besides, locals from the nearby villages started marching towards the encounter site and clashes broke out at several places, which continued till the funeral prayers of the militants and civilians were offered late Thursday evening.
In a separate incident in Bandipora district of north Kashmir, one militant Mushtaq Ahmad Seer was killed near police station. According to Srinagar based defense spokesperson, one army personal was also injured during the incident.
According to official figures, 29 Armymen, including 15 in snow avalanches and 27 militants have been killed this year, till now. The police figures claim that around 100 locals have joined militant ranks in last year and 59 of them joined after Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani was killed along with his two colleagues on July 8 last year. More than 60 weapons have been snatched from police and other government forces in 2016.
