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| 13 terrorists, three army soldiers, four civilians dead in bloodiest encounters in South Kashmir | | |  Early Times Report
Srinagar, Apr 1: In one of the major showdowns between militants and security forces in three areas of South Kashmir in the recent past army lost three brave soldiers. Thirteen terrorists were killed, two of whom were responsible for the murder of Ummer Fayaz, the army officer who was dragged out of a wedding and shot. One of the dead terrorists is a top operative of the terror group.
Four civilians also died in clashes as locals tried to hold up the anti-terror operations. Many security forces personnel were also injured in the encounters. While 54 civilians sustained pellet injuries, six others suffered bullet injuries.
"We request citizens not to fall prey to any speculations and rumors which are intended to disturb peace. J&K Police seeks your cooperation for maintaining order," said Inspector General Of Police Kashmir range S P Pani.
Earlier, at a press conference called at Victor Force headquarters at Awantipura, around 33 km from here, Corps Commander of XV Corps, Lt Gen AK Bhatt, termed it one of the biggest operations in recent times and said the death of Lt Ummer Fayaz, who was brutally killed in Shopian last year, had been avenged.
Sources in Army told that pursuing credible leads of presence of terrorists, security forces launched operations at three places simultaneously, one in Anantnag and two in Shopian districts after a tip-off about the presence of large number of terrorists, who had gathered at these spots to plan attacks, to target security personnel.
"While the searches were going on, the hiding terrorists fired upon the search parties, ensuing encounters at both the sites," he said.
In the first encounter in Anantnag, SSP Altaf Khan along with the family members of the terrorists made special efforts to convince a local terrorist to surrender during the Dialgam encounter. As the search started and the location of terrorists was zeroed in, the SSP Altaf made repeated requests on loud speaker asking them to surrender, as per the SOP.
"One of the terrorists came out of the house and surrendered before the forces. He has been taken into custody. The family of the terrorist who surrendered at the encounter site also helped the police in motivating him to come out of the house and surrender. The other did not do so and instead resorted to firing on the forces which was retaliated and in which he was killed," said Police Spokesperson Manoj Pandita.
He was identified as Rouf Khanday. Rouf had gone missing early this year and his gun wielding photograph had come on social media in last week of March. The body of Rouf was handed over to the family for last rites. Both of them were part of outlawed terrorist organization Hizbul Mujahideen.
In second encounter at Sugan Draggad, Shopian, security forces killed seven terrorists which lasted for four hours. Dead bodies in combat dress were recovered from the house. They have been identified as Adil Ahmed Thoker of Humhuna, Nazim Dar of Nagbal, Ubaid Shafi Malla of Trenz, Yawar Itoo of Safanagri, Rayees Ahmed Thoker of Padarpora, Zubair Turay of Shopian and Ashfaq Malik of Pinjura.
Apparently this group had joined HM in the summer of 2017 and were involved in series of cases of attacks on civilians and security forces; killing of Lt. Ummer Fayaz is one among them. All the bodies have been handed over to families for their last rites.
At Dragad, while the search party entered the target house, they found body of one Mushtaq Ahmad Thoker (house owner) along with the dead terrorists. There was no collateral damage of property at this encounter site.
Sources said that the encounter took place at houses of three brothers. One of them has his son an Indian Police Service officer of 2013 batch, currently posted as SP in a different state. Nine AK 47 rifles and other type of ammunition were recovered from the encounter site.
In third encounter at Kachhdora, Shopian, security forces killed three terrorists. About 15,000 residents of Kachhdora and adjoining villages had gathered and subjected the Police and security forces to intense stone pelting in desperate attempts to help the terrorists escape.
During these clashes one civilian, Zubair of Gopalpora Kulgam got killed. Three Army soldiers also lost the life in the encounter. Due to massive stone pelting, security forces have to call off the operation.
Sources said that two injured terrorists managed to escape taking the advantage of the protestors. Reports said that protestors managed to rescue one of the terrorist who was injured, but had died on way to hospital. The identity of the killed terrorists and affiliations are being ascertained.
At Kachdoora three army men laid down their lives in line of duty and two civilian namely Zubair Ahmad Bhat resident of Gopalpora received fire arm injury in cross fire and subsequently succumbed, and Mehraj-Ud-Din Bhat of Kachdoora received critical bullet wounds, Bhat was immediately taken to district hospital Pulwama where doctors declared him brought dead on arrival.
As the news of the terrorists killings spread in South Kashmir, triggered civilian protests. At least 94 civilians were injured during the clashes between the security forces and protesters at two encounter sites, Kachdoora and Dragad-Sugan in South Kashmir's Shopian district. Some of the other injured in the incident are being treated at different hospitals.
In both the encounter sites, massive clashes erupted between the locals and the forces. Hundreds of protesters at both the places pelted rocks on forces to disrupt their anti-militant operations. In the wake of the attacks, mobile internet services were suspended in the Kashmir Valley as a precautionary measure.
"We have avenged the killing of Lt Ummer Fayaz. Among the terrorists killed in encounter, two terrorists Ishfaq Malik and Rayees Thokar were responsible for his killing," Lt Gen Anil Kumar Bhatt said. He termed it one of the biggest operations in recent times.
Twenty two year old Lieutenant Ummer Fayaz was brutally killed by terrorists last year, and his body was found in the Hermain area of Shopian district in South Kashmir. Director General of Jammu and Kashmir Police S P Vaid urge all the parents to appeal to their children to shun the path of violence and join the national mainstream. He said it is very painful to see young boys getting killed in this manner.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti has expressed grief over the death of two civilians during various security operations in Anantnag and Shopian districts today. She has also sympathized with those injured during these operations. She also paid tributes to three army jawans who were killed during these operations. She has conveyed her sympathies with the bereaved families and prayed for peace to the departed souls. |
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