Conflict

Abu Hanzala whose Lal Chowk photo circulated on Social Media among militants killed in Shopian, says Police

Police says the group of militants had killed police personnel and civilians  

Srinagar: Six militants were killed in a gunfight with the armed forces in Kapran area of south Kashmir’s Shopian district on Sunday. One civilian was killed in the armed forces firing after the gunfight.

The encounter broke out in Batagund at around 1:30 am following a joint operation launched by the police, army and the CRPF.

“Two more militants killed. Total six militants killed. Weapons and war like stores recovered,” army said in a tweet, adding that a soldier was also killed in the gunfight.

“The killed militants have been identified as Mushtaq Ahmad Mir of Cheki-Cholan Shopian, Mohammad Abass Bhatt of Cheki Mantribugh Shopian, Umar Majeed Ganaie of Souch Kulgam, Mohd Waseem Wagay of Amshipora, Khalid Farooq Malik of Baghander Aliyalpora Shopian and from the material evidence collected, one militant is learnt to be a foreigner from Pakistan,” the police has said.

After the gunfight police came out with a detailed statement, saying that it was a combined group of HM and LeT.

“All the killed six militants were wanted by the law for their complicity in a series of terror crimes including the attack on security establishments and civilian killings in the area. With their elimination, all notorious militants of the belt have been successfully eliminated,” said police spokesman.

“Umer Majid Ganai who had escaped from Batmaloo encounter and whose photo was recently circulated on social media showing his presence near clock tower Lal chowk had figured in the killings of several policemen and civilians in the area since 2016. He was involved in Pombai Bank guard attack case in which 4 policemen and 2 banks guards had lost their lives in 2017,” the statement said.

Reports said that following the killing of six militants in the gunfight at Batagund, civilians took to streets near the gunfight site and its adjoining areas and pelted stones on the forces. Similar clashes were received from many other parts of Kulgam and Shopian.

The police and paramilitary forces used tear smoke shells, pellets, and live ammunition to disperse the protests. In the incident, at least four civilians suffered bullet wounds and sixteen others hit by pellets and tear smoke shells.

All the injured were taken to nearby by respective hospitals. Nouman Ashraf Bhat (17) of Balsoo, Kulgam were referred to SKIMS Soura, however, he died on the way.

Moreover, three more persons were referred to Srinagar hospital for specialized treatment.

 

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