Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar Jan 6: DIG North Kashmir, Garib Dass, today said that security forces in Kashmir are well prepared to deal with Pathankot type of attacks.
When asked about his comments on Pathankot attack, Dass said that counter-insurgency grid in Kashmir is strong to deal with such type of Fidayeen attacks in Kashmir. “We take appropriate steps to foil such acts. You already know this. The counter-insurgency grid in Kashmir is strong and we, all the security forces, are well prepared here to deal with such attacks. We are trained for it”, he said.
The DIG, when asked about the infiltration of militants into Kashmir, said that with the heavy snowfall passes have been closed and chances of infiltration has become less. He, however, said that counter-infiltration grid is strong to deal with any kind of infiltration on the Line of Control (LoC).
“Counter-infiltration grid is strong. There was lot of snowfall in North Kashmir, the passes are closed and there are less chances of infiltration. If there is any attempt in snow, it will be dealt with”, said DIG.
In the meantime while addressing a press conference in North Kashmir, Dass said that Police arrested three militants of Hizbul Mujahideen who were behind the killing of their colleague last year by suspected him of misusing funds and planning his surrender.
“On September 19, last year, a bullet ridden body of Fayaz Ahmad Bhat alias Showkat son of Abdul Rahim Bhat of Wailoo Pattan who was an active militant of Hizbul Mujahideen outfit was found lying in the orchards of village Devbug Kunzer”, the DIG said.
Police lodged a case (FIR NO 85/2015 U/S 302/R.P.C, 7/27 Arms Act) in Police Station Kunzer.
Dass said that during the investigation, it surfaced that the militant Fayaz was killed by his own associates who were operating with him in Pattan area.
“It was also revealed during the investigation that a recycled ex-militant Tariq Ahmad War alias Javaid son of Ghulam Rasool War of Kralpora Wailoo Pattan, in order to eliminate Fayaz Bhat hatched a criminal conspiracy along with other militants of Hizbul Mujahideen outfit namely Bilal Ahmad Bhat S/o Sonaullah Bhat R/o Takia Batpora, Nisar Ahmad Wani S/o Ali Mohammad Wani R/o Adipora Kunzer And Ishfaq Ahmad Lone S/o Ab. Rashid Lone R/o Chichilora”, DIG said.
Dass said that this gang of militants had developed acrimony towards Fayaz, accusing him of misappropriation of funds for militancy and suspecting him of planning his surrender before the forces.
“During those times there was an inter gang rivalry going on between two groups of Hizbul Mujahideen- one led by Qayoom Najar of Sopore and an attempt was made by these militants to portray this killing as part of inter gang rivalry”, DIG said.
“On the day, Bhat was killed, the group met in Devbug in an orchard and exchanged heated arguments. Thereafter during night, at a distance of couple of kilometers from the spot Fayaz was killed by a volley of gun fire by the gang from close range”, the officer said.
Dass said: “In the incident another militant Nisar Ahmad Wani S/o Ali Mohammad Wani R/o Adipora Kunzer who was later killed in an encounter with Government forces on October 21, 2015 also sustained gunshot wounds in the retaliatory fire by Fayaz.”
“The body of the deceased Fayaz was carried in the Tata mobile load carrier driven by Sajad Ahmad S/o Abdul Ahad Sheikh R/o Devbug Kunzer and dumped at the spot where group had met in the orchards of village Devbug”, the officer said.
“After dumping the dead body en-route the injured militant Nisar was taken in the same vehicle to one medical practitioner who provided him medical aid. The vehicle has also been seized by police and Tariq Ahmad War, Sajad Ahmad Sheikh, Irfan Ahmad Ganaie have been arrested in the instant case of murder while as another militant Nisar Ahmad Khan has got killed in an encounter police”, the officer said.
The DIG said that two militants are still at large and security force are looking for them. “However militants Bilal Ahmad Bhat S/o Sonaullah Bhat R/o Taki Batpora, Ishfaq Ahmad Wani S/o Ab. Rashid Wani R/o Chichilora are still at large and efforts are on to trace them”, he added.
Meanwhile, Srinagar Airport has been put on high alert after Border Security Forces (BSF) reported that they have seen suspicious movement of a group of five militants near the boundary wall of Srinagar’s technical airport last night.
The movement was reported last night and all security forces were alerted and a massive search operation was conducted around the airport during the entire night but nothing was found.
Sources said that the airport has been put on high alert as security forces don’t want to take any chance after the attack on Pathankot Air base in which 7 security men including a Lt Col of NSG was killed.
In the meantime, militants hurled a grenade on 40 Battalion of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) at Momin Abad in South Kashmir’s district of Anantnag this evening.
The grenade missed the intended target and exploded outside without causing any harm. Senior police and CRPF officials rushed to the spot and area was cordoned off and searches were conducted for the militants responsible for the attack, but no one was arrested.
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