Fayaz Bukhari
Srinagar, Aug 7: Divisional commander of Lashkar-e-Toiba and mastermind of Udhampur attack on Border Security Forces (BSF), Abu Qasim, last night gave slip to the security forces during a gun battle at Kakapora in South Kashmir’s district of Pulwama.
Two militants believed to be Abu Qasim or his deputy Dujana, a local militant of Aloochibagh area of Pulwama, Manzoor Ahmad were trapped in a house where security forces killed Talib Ahmad Shah, a local militant.
Talib was killed in a brief gun battle soon after Police and Army cordoned off Astan Mohalla in Kakapora village in district Pulwama yesterday afternoon on a specific information about presence of militants in the village. The firing stopped after initial gun battle and troops retrieved the body of the militant killed in the gun battle.
The other two militants managed to shift to another house when Talib was killed and gun battle continued till late night. Troops later blasted off the house in which militants were holed up.
After several blasts, there was no gun fire from either side. Police and Army brought in three earth movers to clear the debris of the damaged houses but no militant body was found. Police suspected both the militants were killed and were under debris. The operation was called off early in the morning after no bodies were found.
Thousands of people today participated in the funeral of Talib at Kakapora.
People in huge numbers converged at the house of Talib Hussain Shah son of Shams-ud-Din Shah soon after his body arrived his home at Naman Kakapora this morning.
His body was taken in a procession that passed through different villages before he was buried in a local grave yard.
After the burial, clashes broke out between stone throwing protesters and police. Security forces used pellet guns after they failed to disperse the protesters by using teargas.
Clashes that broke out early morning continued intermittently throughout the day, resulting in injuries to at least two dozen persons including eight cops.
The injured have been identified as Arbaz Ameen Khan son of Mohammad Ameen Khan of Singo Narbal , Irshad Ahmed Dar son of Abdul Rasheed Dar of Galbugh Kakapora, Masood Ahmed Bhat son of Sanaullah Bhat of Begumbagh, Zahid Ahmed Dar son of Gulam Ahmed Dar of Samboora, Sabzar Ahmed Bhat son of Ghulam Mohammad Bhat of Tral, Firdous Ahmed Bhat son of Ghulam Mohammad Bhat of Kareemabad, Nisar Ahmed Sheikh son of Ghulam Mohammad Sheikh of Kisargam and Fayaz Ahmed Bhat son of Abdul Ahad Dar of Samboora.
All the injured have pellet injuries and tear smoke shells and have been shifted to SMHS hospital in Srinagar.
Additional reinforcements were brought into the area to contain the spiraling protests.
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