* Curfew like restrictions imposed in parts of Kashmir; mobile internet snapped
Fayaz Bukhari
Srinagar, May 27: A top commander of Hizbul Mujahideen, Sabzar Bhat, and his aide were killed in an overnight gun battle in Tral area of South Kashmir while Army foiled a major infiltration attempt along Lone of Control (LoC) in North Kashmir this morning killing six infiltrating militants. Killing of Sabzar led to widespread protests in Kashmir in which one protester was killed and scores including cops were injured.
Army today achieved a major success by killing six infiltrating militants near the LoC in Rampur sector of Uri. Troops deployed along the LoC in Rampur sector noticed movement of infiltrators and engaged them near the fence. Six militants were killed and search operation is underway.
Click here to watch video
The infiltration was attempted in Khanda Post area of Rampur and Army was tracking the movement of these infiltrators for last three days. They recovered 4 AK-47 rifles, 2 pistols, one UBGL, 10 UBGL grenades, 3 hand grenades, 10 AK magazines, 400 AK rounds, dry fruit, four mobile phones, 2 GPS devices, 2 wireless sets, 4 rucksacks and 4 pouches.
Commanding Officer of 4-Garwal, Colonel Samarjit Ray, told reporters this evening that Army was tracking the movement of the infiltrating group for last three days. He said that they were tracking them with the help of surveillance devices despite thick foliage in the area.
“Last evening, we spotted them near the fence and Army parties were sent to the area and they were challenged leading to a gun battle in which all the six infiltrators were killed, Our aim of tracking them was to wipe out the entire group which we did”, he said.
Col Ray said that six bodies have been recovered and the area is being sanitized. He said that war like stores besides arms and ammunition was recovered from the killed militants.
It may be mentioned here that Army foiled a BAT strike in Uri sector yesterday and killed two militants near Line of Control.
Meanwhile, security forces today killed Hizbul Mujahideen commander, Sabzar and his aide Faizan Muzaffar in Soimoh village of Tral in South Kashmir. Three militants were trapped in the village after security forces cordoned it off last evening. The militants during the cordon and searches tried to flee but security forces fired back and they were trapped in a house.
The operation was put on hold during the night and the security forces launched massive assault in the morning killing both the militants. Two residential houses in which the two militants were trapped were damaged in the encounter.
A police spokesman said that last evening, militants fired upon a patrolling party of 42-RR at Hurdimir locality of Soimoh village in Tral. “The fire was retaliated and the militants took shelter in the nearby houses. Subsequently, a cordon and search operation was launched by the joint team of Awantipora police, 42 RR and 180- Bn of CRPF. The militants hiding in the houses again opened fire on the joint team, triggering an encounter,” he said.
He said in this encounter two Hizb militants identified as Faizan Muzaffar and Sabzar Ahmad Bhat were killed. “Arms and ammunition were recovered from the encounter site,” he said.
Sabzar joined Hizbul Mujahideen on the day when Burhan Wani’s brother was killed by Army on April 15, 2015. Sabzar was close aide of Burhan as well as Zakir – the successor of Burhan Wani. Faizan had recently joined the militant ranks and was 17 year old.
As the news about Sabzar’s killing spread, clashes amid spontaneous shutdown occurred across Kashmir. Shopkeepers closed their shops while public transport went off the roads as people were seen rushing home following widespread protests leading to chaos.
Clashes and protests broke out in Pulwama, Khanabal, Kulgam, Awantipora, Shopian, Ganderbal, Srinagar, Budgam, Baramulla, Kupwara, Bandipora and all other major townships. In Srinagar, students of Amar Singh College, SP College, SP School, MP School and Gandhi Memorial protested and pelted stones on police and CRPF. Within no time, clashes and protests spread in downtown and uptown areas of the Srinagar.
Police and paramilitary forces fired teargas and pellets. Scores of students took out a protest march in Kashmir university campus.
In Tral, security forces fired at protesters leading to death of one Aqib Ahmad Dar of Khanqah Medoora Tral. However, police said he died in cross firing near the encounter site. “During the cross firing one more person was injured. He was rushed to the Tral hospital where he succumbed to his injuries,” police said.
Police said: “Today in the afternoon stone pelting incidents were reported from about two dozen places from different areas of the Kashmir valley. “The gatherings of miscreants pelted stones on police establishments and forces camps. They also pelted stones on the moving vehicles on the busy roads and in the Chowks. Police and security forces rushed to tackle these mobs. They were also pelted upon in which 25 police and security forces personnel were injured. The police and security forces personnel showed utmost restraint in tackling these unruly mobs. During these incidents 12 miscreants were also injured,” the police added.
Meanwhile, separatists called for shutdown on May 28 and against killings of Hizb commander Sabzar Ahmad and other militants. They also called for Tral march on May 30.
Following the killing of Sabzar, the authorities snapped mobile internet facilities including 2G, 3G and 4G. The decision was taken immediately.
According to the District Magistrate Srinagar, in view of the prevailing law and order situation, strict restrictions have been imposed within the territorial jurisdiction of seven police stations of Srinagar district, including Khanyar, Nowhatta, Safakadal, M R Gunj, Rainawari, Kralkhud and Maisuma with effect from May 28 till further orders.
“However, admit cards of the candidates appearing for BOPEE & AIIMS examinations scheduled on May 28 shall be treated as curfew passes on the day. The identity cards of the invigilators deployed for supervising the examinations would also be treated as curfew passes”, the DM said.
“It is further ordered that all the colleges and higher secondary schools in Srinagar will also remain closed on May 29”.
According to District Magistrate Anantnag strict restrictions would be in place in the territorial jurisdiction of the district tomorrow on May 28 to prevent breach of peace and loss of life in view of the prevailing law and order situation.
Follow our WhatsApp channel
