Fayaz Bukhari
Srinagar, Aug 1: Security forces today conducted massive searches in Pattan area of North Kashmir’s Baramulla district for two militants, including the most wanted militant in North Kashmir, Qayoom Najjar, who fired at Police party last night on National Highway injuring an officer and his two security guards.
Army’s 2 RR and 29 RR, Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and Special Operations Group (SOG) of Jammu and Kashmir Police conducted searches at Mirgund, Baliharan, Singpora, Chanabal and Gunde Hassibal in Baramulla district throughout the day today.
They also established nakas on the National Highway at Mirgund, Pattan, Potkhah, Kanispora Baramulla, Stadium Colony Baramulla and Amar Garh Sopore to conduct surprise checks of vehicles. The entire highway was dominated by the security forces since the incident that took place late last evening.
Sources said that an Army dog squad that was also brought in to trace the militants. The dogs traced the militants towards Mirgund and then returning back towards National Highway towards Baramulla.
Sources said police believed that one of the militant’s might have been the most wanted militant of North Kashmir, Qayoom Najjar who has Rs 10 lakh on his head and his associate Tariq Mawar of Handwara. Najjar is behind the attacks on Telecoms in North Kashmir and Srinagar and killing of Hurriyat Conference activists and former militants.
Reports said that the two militants boarded Tavera vehicle bearing registration number JK01Q-8792 of Bilal Ahmad Gojri son of Ghulam Mohammad Gojri of Pattan at Palhalan last evening. Gojri who is injured and undergoing treatment in SKIMS Soura told police that he had gone to Palhalan to drop some one there.
Gojri told Police that his relative was in Lal Ded Memorial Hospital Srinagar and was on his way to Srinagar. “The duo also boarded his Taxi at Palhalan and were on their way to Srinagar”, he revealed to Police.
At Mirgund, the car was intercepted at police naka and driver was asked to come out and he was questioned about his destination. In the meantime, the Station House Officer (SHO) Inspector Mohammad Salim reached the spot and he told his men to search the vehicle and take it to the Police Station along with the passengers.
As a cop opened the door of the vehicle for frisking of the vehicle, the inmates opened fire on police injuring the SHO, Constable Mushtaq Ahmad and SPO Dilshad Ahmad. Bilal Ahmad Gojri, the driver of the vehicle was also injured as police also opened fire.
The militants fled from the scene towards the villages and later appeared on the highway and fled back towards Baramulla. It is not yet known where did they end up.
The two militants left behind ‘fake’ identity cards. One identity card shows the address of a militant as Banay Mohalla Bandipora and the another card shows the second one as resident of Sopore town. Reports said that both the identity cards are fake.
In the meantime, militants tonight fired at a police party at Hari Parigam in South Kashmir’s restive area of Tral.
The police party fired back but the militants fled under the cover of darkness. However, there was no casuality on either side.
Army’s 42 RR was rushed to the spot to conduct operation against the militants responsible for the attack. They are conducting the searches in the village.
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