2 arrested for Shopian IED blast
Fayaz Bukhari
Srinagar, June 7: Three militants including a Pakistani were killed in two separate encounters in Kashmir today while two hybrid militants were arrested in Improvised Explosive Device (IED) blast case at Shopian.
Two Lashkar-e-Toiba militants, including a Pakistani national, were killed in an encounter early today in Chatkaras Kandi area of North Kashmir’s Kupwara district.
A joint team of police and Army cordoned off Chatkaras Kandi area of Kupwara area after inputs about the presence of militants in the area. During search of the area, militants fired at them leading to a gun battle in which two militants of LeT were killed.
One of them has been identified as Tufail, a Pakistani citizen while as another was identified as Ishtiyak Lone from Tral Pulwama.
Another encounter broke out this afternoon at Badimarg area of Shopian district in which a BVSc student turned militant was killed.
An official said that a joint team of police, Army and CRPF after receiving information about the presence of militants launched search operation in the area.
The hiding militants fired on the security forces leading to an encounter. “During exchange of fire, one militant was killed while as operation is going on,” an official said.
He identified the slain militant as Nadeem Ahmad Rather alias Dr. Raja Nadeem, son of Abdul Rehman Rather resident of Ashmuji Kulgam. He was missing since March 27, 2020.
The official said that before joining ranks Nadeem was student of Bachelor of Veterinary Science (B.V. Sc) at Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology (SKUAST).
As per police records, he was a categorized militant, active since year 2020 and was earlier affiliated with LeT and recently switched to HM.
He was part of the groups involved in several attacks including on Police, security forces and civilians. “The killed militant was involved in Kulpora Panch’s killing on 02-03-2022. He was also instrumental in reviving the militancy by recruiting youth.”
In the meantime, two hybrid militants and their two associates have been arrested in Shopian in connection with IED blast that took place last week in Sedow Shopian.
Inspector General of Police Vijay Kumar said that police has cracked the IED blast case and two militant associates were arrested.
SP Shopian Tanushri said that soon after IED attack on 15 Garhwal at Sedow Shopian, a case was registered and a team of investigation was constituted and within a week “we were able to crack the case.”
“So far two hybrid militants Showkat Ahmad Sheikh, 26, and Parvaiz, Ahmad Lone, 26, both drivers by profession and residents of Sedow Shopian were arrested and through their arrest incriminate materials being used for execution of blast has been recovered and further investigation was taken up,” she said.
She said that active LeT militant Aabid Ramzan Sheikh is behind the attack as according to investigation Aabid has provided material for blast besides training to accused which to the blast.
Further investigation in this regard is going on and details regarding this incident will be shared later once investigation is completed, she said.
On June 2, an IED blast took place inside a private vehicle at Sedow in which three soldiers of 15 Garhwal were injured and later among them one soldier succumbed.
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