Al-Badar responsible for killings, militants identified: ADGP
Fayaz Bukhari
Srinagar, Aug 16: Militants shot dead a minority community member while his brother was injured in Chotigam area of South Kashmir’s Shopian district today.
Militants shot dead a minority community member identified as Sunil Kumar son of Arjun Nath while his brother identified as Pintu Kumar was injured. Pintu was immediately shifted to a nearby hospital for treatment.
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Senior security officials immediately reached the spot and a massive manhunt was launched against the militants responsible for the killing.
The Muslims carrying the dead body of Kumar protested against his killing. Raising slogans “innocent killings not acceptable”, they took part in his final rites.
Later, Director General of Police, Dilbag Singh, Additional DGP Vijay Kumar and other officials visited Shopian and reviewed the security.
The ADGP said that as per eyewitness one categorized militant of Al Badar, Adil Wani, of Kutpora Shopian and an Over Ground Worker (OGW) were involved in the killing. “We are working on it and both will be either arrested or neutralised in an encounter soon. ADGP also appreciated villagers who held protests and condemned the killing of innocent civilians,” he said.
Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha was “pained beyond words” over the incident.
“Pained beyond words on the despicable (militant) attack on civilians in Shopian. My thoughts are with the family of Sunil Kumar. Praying for speedy recovery of injured,” he said in a tweet, adding, “The attack deserves strongest condemnation from everyone.” He said militants responsible for “barbaric act will not be spared.”
An angry relative of Kumar told Excelsior that the Government should rehabilitate the family of the deceased and the injured. He alleged that earlier a few months ago a chemist of the village Sonu Kumar was also targeted by militants and he was injured in the attack. “He came out of the hospital after several months. He was not given any compensation. He is begging for a ration card in Jammu but has not been provided,” he alleged.
In the meantime, militants hurled a grenade at the house of a Kashmiri Pandit at Manihall, Imam Sahib in Shopian. However, no loss of life or injury was reported.
The area was immediately cordoned off and searches are being conducted against the militants responsible for the attack.
A relative of Kumar said that the Government should rehabilitate the family of the deceased and the injured. He alleged that earlier a few months ago a chemist of the village Sonu Kumar was also targeted by militants and he was injured in the attack. “He came out of the hospital after several months. He was not given any compensation. He is begging for ration card in Jammu but has not been provided,” he alleged.
Earlier, a member of the minority community was injured in a grenade blast at Gopalpora area of Budgam district last evening.
Police said that militants hurled grenade at Gopalpora, leaving one member of the minority community injured. Identified as Karan Singh, 20, son of Anil Kumar resident of Gopalpora, he was rushed to SMHS in Srinagar for treatment.
In another grenade attack last evening at Police Control Room Srinagar, in Batamaloo, a police man was injured
The cop, Sarfraz Ahmad of Batote, who was injured in a shoot out with the militant on Aug 14 evening succumbed to injuries on August 15.
Police said that they aborted a major attack by intercepting two Lashkar-e-Toiba militants in Nowhatta area of Srinagar on Aug 14 ahead of the August 15 functions.
A Police official said that at least one militant was also injured in the attack near Gani Memorial area of Rajouri Kadal where they were intercepted on Aug 14.
The official said that as the duo reached near the Gani Memorial Stadium, a police party was deployed in the area. “On finding them in a suspicious manner, the police party stopped the duo. They opened fire which was retaliated by the police party as a result of which one or both militants got injured and they fled-away taking advantage of darkness and built-up area. Later, the blood trails were seen upto 400 meters pointing that militants are injured as well,” he said.
The militants also left scooty along with the AK-74 rifle, two grenades, some extra clothes, a helmet and other incriminating material.
“Investigations have revealed that the scooty which they had left behind was purchased a few days ago from a person by an active militant Moomin Gulzar of Eidgah Srinagar,” they said. One Umer Mukhtar Naqeeb son of Bashir Ahmad of Natipora Srinagar has been arrested for providing the second-hand scooty to Moomin Gulzar on July 27.
“The attack was being supervised by Moomin and also by the TRF militant Basit of Kulgam,” he said.
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