Fayaz Bukhari
SRINAGAR, Apr 7: In a major success to the security forces against Hizbul Mujahideen, top commander of the HM and a police deserter turned militant were killed in an encounter with security forces in Shopian district of South Kashmir today.
Deputy Inspector General of Police, South Kashmir, Nitish Kumar, told Excelsior that acting on a specific information about the presence of militants in Vehil village, in Shopian district of South Kashmir, Police, 62- Rashtriya Rifles (RR) of Army and 14 battalion of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) cordoned off the area and conducted searches.
The hiding militants opened fire on the security forces and they retaliated, leading to a gun battle. Two militants were killed in the gun battle and they have been identified as Anam-ul-Haq Malla alias Waseem alias Rizwan son of Mohammad Iqbal Malla resident of Pahlipora Trenz, Shopian and Naseer Ahmad Pandith son of Ghulam Rasool Pandith resident of Karimabad, Pulwama who was active since 2015 after deserting the Police department along with service weapons. Malla was the district commander of the outfit.
Security forces recovered two AK-47 rifles, 183 AK rounds, 6 magazines, two grenades, two LTPE, two electric detonators, one wire cutter, one HM letter pad, one scissor and cash Rs. 6,500 from the encounter site.
Police said that Waseem Malla was active since 2012 and was involved in many militancy related activities including attack on Police guard deployed at Pargochi Shopian where he had snatched two SLR rifles. He was involved in firing on a civilian Mohammad Rafiq Malla resident of Pahlipora in which later was critically injured. Wasim was involved in firing on police Guard at Pinjoora in district Shopian in 2012.
Police said that in 2013, Malla was involved in firing on police party at Imam Sahib and firing on Police Station Zainapora Shopian. In 2014, he was involved in the killing of a civilian Naseer Ahmad of village Gugloora, Shopian and attack on a police Party at Bungam Shopian in which few policemen were injured.
Police said that in 2015 the HM commander was involved in the killing of three police personnel at Ashipora, Shopian and lobbing of a grenade at Batpora Chowk, Shopian in which 16 civilians were injured. He was involved in killing of a civilian Rasik Ahmad Khan resident of Wasohallan, Shopian, and also in an attempt to snatch weapons from police guard at Court Complex Shopian. He was involved in firing on a civilian Mohammad Yaqoob Malla resident of Pahlipora Shopian in which he was critically injured.
Police said Naseer Ahmad Pandith was involved in the killing of three police personnel at Aishipora, Shopian last year after deserting from the police along with service weapons. He deserted police in March last year and fled with two AK rifles from the residence of then Minister Altaf Bukhari.
A Defence spokesman said here today that in a major blow to militant outfits, security forces gunned down two top HM militants in Shopian district of South Kashmir.
“In a well coordinated, swift and surgical operation based on specific information regarding presence of some terrorists in village Vihil of Shopian district, Army and Police eliminated two HM terrorists in the wee hours today”, the spokesman said.
The spokesman added: “As the forces closed in, they drew heavy volume of fire from the terrorists hiding in the village leading to a short but intense firefight which resulted in the elimination of two terrorists identified as Naseer Ahmad Pandith of Kareemabad, Pulwama, and Wasim Ahmad Malla alias Rizwan of Pahlipora, Shopian.”
“Wasim Malla who had been active since May 2012 was involved in a number of terror activities including killing of three unarmed JKP personnel at Amshipura, Shopian on April 6, 2015 and injuring 16 civilians in a grenade attack at Batpura Chowk, Balapur on May 9, 2015”, the spokesman added.
The spokesman said: “Naseer Pandith was a former SPO with the then Minister Altaf Bukhari and had decamped with two weapons in March 2015 later joining the HM. He too had been involved in terror activities in March-April this year leading to injuries to civilians and a JKP personnel.”
In the meantime, shutdown was observed in Pulwama and Shopian districts of South Kashmir against the killing of two militants.
Protests erupted in Kareemabad and Pehlipora villages after the killing of the two militants. Shops, business establishments and schools were shut and public transport was off the roads.
Thousands of people participated in the funeral processions of the two militants. A police bunker was set ablaze by angry protesters in Murran Chowk of Pulwama town during clashes. The angry youth pelted stones towards the security forces deployed in the town leading to clashes in which six youth and nine police men were injured.
In another incident, police and 28 RR of Army today busted a militant hideout during searches in Dardpora area of Lolab in North Kashmir. Ten UBGL grenades, two compasses, one AK-magazine, two green grenades, one wireless set, AK ammunition, pistol ammunition, one wire cutter, one binocular, one snow jacket, socks, pouches, glouse, fresh fruit and vegetable were recovered from them.
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