They were involved in target killings: IGP
Fayaz Bukhari
Srinagar, Nov 24: Police this evening killed the top commander of The Resistant Front (TRF), Mehran Yaseen Shalla, who was involved in target killings mostly in Srinagar city and his two associates in a brief shoot out in Ram Bagh area of Srinagar.
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Inspector General of Police, Vijay Kumar, said that TRF commander, a resident of Jamalatta area of Srinagar who was most wanted militant in the City was killed along with his associates Manzoor Ahmad Mir, resident of Babhar Pulwama and Arafat Ahmad Sheikh, resident of Nikloora Pulwama.
He said that Srinagar police received input about movement of militants in Rambagh area of Srinagar. “A small team from Srinagar police signalled a suspected Santro vehicle to stop. However, the militants started firing indiscriminately on the police party from inside the car while trying to flee from the spot under the cover of firing. The fire was, however, effectively retaliated leading to gunfight”, he said.
As per police records, they were linked to TRF and part of group involved in several militancy related incidents including attacks on security forces and civilians.
Mehran Yaseen had a long history of militancy and was wanted for his involvement in grenade attack at Barbar Shah Srinagar in June this year in which one civilian Mudasir Ahmad Bhat resident of Hanjigund Beerwah was killed and three other civilians were critically injured, killing of Meeran Ali Sheikh at Bulbul Lanker Nawa Kadal in July this year, killing of police officer Arshad Ahmad at Khanyar in September this year, killing of School Principal Supinder Kour and teacher Deepak Chand of Government Higher Secondary School, Khankah Noorbagh Sangam in October this year.
Prior to joining militancy, several cases regarding his involvement in stone pelting incidents were also registered against him. Arafat Ahmad was also involved in several militancy cases including killing of a non-local labour at Litter area of Pulwama in October this year.
“Incriminating materials including arms and ammunition have been recovered from their possession. Police has registered a case in this regard and investigation is in progress”, a police statement issued here reads.
The IGP said that so far 144 militants were shot dead and two civilians killed in cross firing in encounters in Kashmir this year. “Last year 207 militants were eliminated and only one civilian was killed in encounters. So far, only 3 three civilians were killed in cross firing during encounters in last two years which is lowest collateral damage in last three decades”, he said.
It may be mentioned here that Kumar had last week said that the TRF commander will be eliminated soon.
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