Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Mar 15: A Central Reserve Police Force personnel was injured in a gunbattle at Balhama area of Khonmoh in the outskirts of Srinagar today where three militants have been trapped after they made an abortive bid to snatch rifle from Personal Security Officer (PSO) of a BJP leader.
The encounter broke out after militants made an abortive bid to snatch a rifle of the PSO of BJP leader Mohammad Anwar Khan near Arsh Medical Institute in Balhama, Khonmoh area of Srinagar today. The PSO Bilal Ahmad suffered injuries in the incident.
Army, CRPF and SOG of Jammu and Kashmir Police rushed to the area and cordoned it off. Militants hiding in the area fired upon security forces ensuing a gun battle in which a CRPF personnel was injured. He has been identified as Pradeep Kumar of 110 Battalion. He was shifted to Army’s 92 Base Hospital for treatment.
Earlier, police said militants fired upon the PSOs of political activist Anwar Khan while the latter was visiting Arsh Institute at Khonmoh area in the outskirts of Srinagar city. The incident happened outside the Institute where the PSOs were present.
“The PSOs of the protected person repulsed the attack while exhibiting extreme caution to avoid any collateral damage leading the militants to flee from the spot. In the incident, one PSO namely Bilal Ahmad has sustained minor injuries,” the spokesman said.
“The area has been cordoned off by police and security forces and is being searched. As per recent update, contact has been established and militants are hold up. Police have registered a case under relevant Sections and investigation is in progress”, the spokesman added.
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Sources said that security forces are suspecting presence of three militants in three houses. One of the houses among them has caught fire during the encounter and during searches nothing was recovered. The cordon has been tightened to prevent militants from fleeing.
Police today also arrested three persons along with arms and ammunition and other incriminating material in Budgam town of Central Kashmir
“Working on an input, Budgam police along with Army during a joint raid arrested three individuals and seized incriminating material and other arms and ammunition,” a police spokesman said.
The spokesman identified the arrested persons as Faizan-ul- Zaman Bhat son of Ghulam Qadir Bhat of Kandipora Bijbehara, Sajad Ahmad Dar son of Ghulam Rasool Dar of Samboora Pulwama and Miaser Ahmad Dar son of Mushtaq Ahmad Dar of Samboora Pulwama.
“The timely arrest of these individuals has prevented the commission of a serious crime. In this connection a blue coloured vehicle which was used by the accused persons has been also seized,” the spokesman added.
Police registered a case and investigation is in progress to unearth the whole chain of conspiracy leading to this incident.
In the meantime, after research scholar, Manan Wani, another youth has joined militancy from Lolab in North Kashmir’s Kupwara district.
A photo has gone viral on social media displaying one Bilal Ahmad Shah son of Shams-u-Din Shah, a resident of Shartmuqam Lolab holding AK47 rifle in his hand, code Shahbaz written in that photo.
Family members of Bilal said that about 1100 hours today morning they came to know about the photo of Bilal, holding AK-47 which has gone viral on social media, claiming he has joined Hizbul Mujahideen militant outfit.
“After seeing a photo of Bilal holding AK-47 that has gone viral on social media, we aren’t sure about his joining any militancy group. He was mentally disturbed person as he was continuously being picked by security forces. Last year, he was held for about a month,” family members said.
They said several FIRs are registered against Bilal for stone pelting. They said that Bilal’s father, Shams-u-Din was also a militant who was killed in 1992.
The relatives of Bilal said that he was an orphan boy and was enrolled in an orphanage in Srinagar where Bilal studied up to 10th Standard. But later due to financial problems back home, he had to quit studies.
“We urge State Government and security agencies to take back all the FIRs lodged against Bilal, that may make a way for his comeback,” they said.
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