3 Militants, 3 Policemen Killed in Separate Gunfights in Kashmir

Srinagar: In the past 24-hours three suspected militants and one policeman was killed and at least one injured in two separate gunfights in rural Kashmir while suspected militants carried out an audacious attack in Srinagar city killing two policemen here on Friday.

According to IGP Kashmir Vijay Kumar, three ‘militants’ were killed in an encounter in Badigam area of Shopian in South Kashmir.

“The civilians were first evacuated from the encounter site and the operation was resumed at about 5:30 am following which the militants were killed and two AK-47 rifles and one pistol was recovered from the site,” IGP Kumar said during a press conference.

The slain suspected militants are locals and are believed to be affiliated with the Al-Badr outfit. They were later identified as Suhail Sheikh, a resident of Shopian’s Turkwangam, Shahid Ahmad Dar, a resident of Awantipora and Muddasir Ahmad Wagay, a resident of Chak Sangren.

In a separate incident in central Kashmir’s Beerwah area of Budgam, gunfight broke out between government forces and suspected militants during which a Special Police Officer (SPO) of the J&K Police was killed and another injured.

The slain policeman was identified as Mohammad Altaf and Manzoor Ahmad who received injuries has been shifted to hospital for treatment. IGP Kumar added that the ‘militants’ took advantage of the darkness and managed to escape from the spot. One of them, police believes, was a foreigner. 

Attacks in Srinagar

After the two encounters ended, a suspected militant shot at two policeman from a point-blank range in Srinagar’s Baghat Barzulla area. The incident, which was caught on a CCTV camera, was apparently carried out by suspected militants who fired indiscriminately at the policemen with an automatic weapon. The one who seemingly shot at the cops from behind, had concealed his weapon in his pheran, as per reports.

The two police personnel were identified as Mohammad Yousuf, a resident of Zurhama area of North Kashmir’s Kupwara and Suhail Ahmad of Aishmuqam area in South Kashmir.

“Preliminary investigation on the basis of CCTV footages and other evidence indicate involvement of two terrorists in the attack, one of them identified as Saqib, a local terrorist and another FT (foreigner), affiliated with proscribed terror outfit LeT,” the police said in a statement.

This is second such attack in past three days where suspected militants carried out a hit-and-run attack in Srinagar. The fresh spate of violence coincides with the recent visit of over 20 foreign diplomats from European, African and Latin American countries to Jammu and Kashmir, which drew flak from the Opposition in the region.

Earlier, on the first day of the envoys’ visit, a suspected militant carried out an attack in the heart of Srinagar city and shot three times at the owner of a popular eatery from a point blank range. The victim 25-year-old Vikas Mehra, however, survived the attack. 

The J&K police on Friday claimed they arrested three suspects in the case who carried out the attack on Mehra, inside his Krishna Dhaba, in just two days.  

The police have identified the assailants as Suhail Ahamad Mir of Nowgam, Owais Manzoor Sofi of Dangarpora and Vilayat Aziz Mir, a Pulwama resident.

“It was learnt that Vilayat was in contact with one Gazi, an active terrorist and trained him locally a month before. He performed the recce of Dalgate Durganag area along with other terrorist associates ten days prior to attack,” the police said.

IGP Kumar also revealed that new militant outfits being floated and others being revived is a new modus operandi of LeT, who are trying to discourage tourists from visiting the Valley following its fresh surge.

The LeT, IGP Kumar said, is using TRF, Muslim Janbaz Force (MJF) as fronts.

“The Dhaba at Srinagar was deliberately targeted to cause a discord in the communal harmony,” he said.