Adil Lateef
Srinagar, Sept 20: Two days after gunmen shot and killed a former Jamiat-ul-Mujahideen militant and his three-year old son in the outskirts of Sopore Town of Baramulla district, police today said that they have got a vital lead in the attack while a shutdown was observed in Kashmir valley against the killings during which incidents of stone-pelting occurred at multiple places.
Bashir Ahmad Bhat of Sagripora Sopore, who was a surrendered militant, was shot by gunmen, who are believed to be militants by police, outside his house on Friday late night when he was supposed to do recharge of his mobile phone from a nearby shop. His minor son, Burhan Bashir who was in his lap, received bullet shots. The father-son duo was rushed to hospital but Bashir succumbed enroute while Burhan lost his life yesterday morning at Sher-e-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS) Soura here.
Top police officials wishing anonymity told Excelsior that they have got a vital lead regarding the identity of the assailant after talking to locals who saw the attackers. “Based upon the version of witnesses, we have got an idea about the attacker. We have almost identified him but we are conducting further probe and once we are sure, we will name him,” they said. The police said that the suspect is a resident of one of the villages of Sopore and is involved in several fatal attacks.
Sources in police revealed that three militants associated with Lashkar-e-Islam outfit led by Abdul Qayoom Najjar are believed to be behind the killings. “The suspect, who fired at the father-son duo, was earlier with Hizbul Mujahideen but then he joined Najjar’s group,” they said. The sources further revealed that not two but three militants were involved in the attack.
“However, one of the militants got down at Sagripora bus stop,” they said.
Police said that they have taken the “case seriously” and “won’t spare the killers”. “Last time when killings of ex-militants and separatist activists occurred in Sopore, it took us some time to see who was behind those attacks. As you know, we found Najjar’s group behind those attacks and since then that became our target. Now that these killings have occurred, we are probing and Najjar’s group is still our target,” the police said.
The fresh attack targeting a surrendered militant has renewed fear among the former militants living in Sopore and its adjoining areas. Several former militants said that they fear the situation might turn worse again. In the months of May and June, when Najjar’s LeI targeted former militants and separatist activists of Syed Ali Shah Geelani’s amalgam, hundreds of ex-militants from Sopore and Baramulla migrated to Srinagar, Jammu and other safe areas.
In view of the prevailing situation, the police in Sopore have decided to increase the security in the Town and its peripheries. “Although the security always remains tight at Sopore but we are intensifying it in terms of night domination and area domination,” a police officer told Excelsior over phone from the Sopore. In reply to a question, he said that they can’t provide security to every former militant and they (former militants) should themselves take precautions. “There are thousands of ex-militants in Sopore. We can’t provide security to each and every one,” he said. “But,” he added, “If someone is being threatened, we can provide him cover.”
Meanwhile, a shutdown was observed in valley amidst stone-pelting incidents at multiple places including in city here. Most of the shops and commercial establishments were closed in city here. The educational institutes, banks and Government offices were closed on the account of Sunday holiday while public transport on few city and inter-district routes was partially affected. The shutdown was called by Hurriyat Conference headed by Syed Ali Geelani.
The clashes between security personnel and protesters erupted at Saraf Kadal and Habba Kadal areas of the Old City. Police used teargas shells to disperse the protesters. However, no one was injured during the stone-hurling clashes. A group of children led by a human rights’ activist, Ahsan Untoo, held a peaceful protest here in press enclave against the killing of Burhan and expressed sympathy with his family.
The effect of shutdown was visible more in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district where clashes between police and protesters erupted at several places in the day. The stone-throwing clashes erupted at Sopore, Sangrama and Palhallan. In the meanwhile, scores of mourners thronged the residence of slain father-son duo while condemnations continue to pour in. Bandipora and Kupwara districts of north Kashmir also observed strike against the killings.
A partial shutdown was also observed in south Kashmir districts including Anantnag, Pulwama, Kulgam and Shopian. In Anantnag, intermittent clashes between police and protesters continued throughout the day.
The killing of the minor has evoked strong reactions from all the sections of society. The people in Valley have expressed resentment over the killing and have termed it “inhuman” and “outrageous”. The anger against the killing is visible among people who are demanding stern punishment to the culprits while as many have compared slain Burhan with a Syrian kid Aylan Kurdi, who drowned in a sea at Turkey while fleeing from his war-torn country.
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