Early Times Report
Jammu, Mar 5: Army killing two terrorists and their four accomplices in south Kashmir's Shopian area has triggered a furore in Kashmir.
Separatists called for a shutdown while the mainstream leaders expressed dismay over the killings. "It seems Kashmiri leaders lack courage to call spade a spade. Anyone accompanying terrorists to carry out a subversive act is destined to get killed," said an analyst.
He said, "A few people are claiming that slain persons were civilians but the question is why should civilians accompany the terrorists that too for carrying out an attack on the security forces?"
He said, "Army has made it clear that the slain persons were over ground workers and had not the jawans fired upon them they (terrorists) would have fired upon them."
Army spokesman in a statement said: "On March 4, 2018, at 7 pm, an Army Mobile Vehicle Check Post (MVCP) was deployed along road Trenz- Pinjoora near village Pohanu. At around 8 pm in the evening, two speeding vehicles were seen approaching the MVCP location from the direction of village Trenz. The stops deployed, signaled the vehicles to stop, however both the vehicles continued to move. At this point, when a search light was flashed towards the approaching vehicles, heavy firing came from both the vehicles. Own troops, in self defence, responded the same with fire. In the ensuing gun fight, one terrorist firing from one of the vehicles was hit and he fell off the vehicle and the vehicle veered off the road towards the nala and the second vehicle sped off."
He said, "Later during the search, the body of terrorist was recovered, who was identified as Amir Ahmad Malik of village Harmen, Category- C terrorist. He was part of banned terrorist organisation Lashkar-e-Toiba and was active since July 2017. War like stores including one AK-74, 3 magazines and 88 rounds were also recovered from the dead terrorist. Three more dead bodies were found in the vehicle during the search. These individuals were accompanying the terrorist."
"At around 9 am on March 5, 2018, body of another terrorist, identified as Ashiq Hussain Bhat, R/O Rakh Kapar, part of banned terrorist organisation Lashkar-e-Toiba, was found from apple orchards of village Saidpura, who is also linked with the same chain of events at village Pohanu," the spokesman said. "At around 9 am. The second vehicle that had fired at the Army was found in the morning today near Pinzura, Shopian where one more individual was found dead. He has been identified as Gowhar Ahmed Lone of Molu-Chitragam village of Shopian."
A Kashmir watcher said, "Even the Army Chief Bipin Rawat had made it clear that whosoever supports a terrorist is as good as terrorist and he won't be spared. So there should be no chest beating. These killings are a clear message to the terrorists and their supporters that anti-national and subversive activities won't be tolerated." |
