JCO killed in Budgam
Fayaz Bukhari
SRINAGAR, Oct 9: Chief commander of Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) and a top Hizbul Mujahideen commander were among four militants killed in two separate gun battles in North and South Kashmir today while an Army officer was killed when their patrol party was fired at during the night in Central Kashmir district of Budgam.
Chief operational commander of Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM), Khalid Ahmad alias Khalid Bhai alias Shahid Showkat, was today killed in a gun battle in Ladoora village of Sopore area of North Kashmir’s Baramulla district.
He was mastermind behind the fidayeen attacks in Kashmir including recent attack on BSF near Srinagar Airport and District Police Lines Pulwama and on 46 RR Army Camp in 2016 at Khajabagh, Baramulla. Click here to watch video
Acting on a specific input regarding the movement of JeM chief operational commander in Ladoora area of Sopore, police laid an ambush at Woveri Mohalla Ladoora. Khalid fired upon the naka party which was retaliated, ensuing an encounter. He was injured but managed to escape from the spot and entered into a residential house.
The security forces immediately cordoned off the house and in the meanwhile CRPF and Army also joined the operation. During search, the JeM commander fired again upon the search party. The fire was retaliated and in the ensuing encounter, he was killed.
A case FIR number 56/2017 under section 307/RPC, 7/27 A Act was registered in Police Station Dangiwacha.
A police spokesman said: “Khalid alias Shahid Showkat was constantly exploring the opportunities to kill the security forces/ police personnel and to attack police/ security establishments in the State. He was motivating youth and poor boys to join his outfit for execution of grenade attacks against monetary benefits on behalf of Pak based JeM commanders.”
The spokesman said that he was involved in a number of civilian killing cases and many Fidayeen attacks in Kashmir valley. “The terrorist was involved in the recent attack on one SPO namely Altaf Ahmad Khan at Hajin Handwara in which the SPO along with his son and father got seriously injured”, he said.
“He along with his associates was involved in killing of tower guard namely Eidul Amin Mir resident of Maqbool Abad Behrampora, Sopore. He was involved in the killing of Fayaz Ahmad Rather resident of Saidpora, Rafiabad near his home. He was also involved in the killing of one Suhail Ahmad Dar resident of Kachloo Khahipora Handwara in Watergam Orchards. He was involved in the killing of Sarpanch Ghulam Nabi Khawaja resident of Kralgund and attack on one civilian namely Naz Khan in the jurisdiction of Police Station Kralgund Handwara”, the spokesman said.
Three militants of Hizbul Mujahideen including district commander Zahid Malik were killed a fierce encounter in Shopian district of South Kashmir this evening.
A joint team of 43 RR, SOG and CRPF launched a cordon-and-search at village Gatipora in Kellar at around 4 pm.
During the searches, the hiding militants opened fire triggering an encounter. Three militants were killed in the gunfight and all the bodies along with three AK rifles were recovered from the site.
The killed militants were identified as Zahid Mir of Ganaupura, Shopian, Irfan Abdullah Ganie of Heff Shirmal, Shopian and Asif Ahmad Paul of Kathokalan, Shopian.
A Junior Commissioned Officer of the Army was killed last night after he suffered a bullet injury in Drang village of Khag Tehsil of Central Kashmir’s Budgam district.
Defence spokesman, Colonel Rajesh Kalia said that an Army man identified as Subedar Rajkumar of 53 Rashtriya Rifles received a bullet injury when the Army patrolling party came under fire last night in general area of Drang.
The deceased trooper had received a bullet in his thigh last night and was rushed to PHC Khag where from he was referred to JVC Srinagar where doctors declared him as brought dead.
Kalia said that Army patrolling party came under fire last night in general area Drang in district Budgam. The fire was returned. However, one Army man was killed in cross-fire.
Follow our WhatsApp channel
