Top HM commander arrested

Fayaz Bukhari
SRINAGAR, Feb 1: Police achieved a major success in South Kashmir by arresting a top Hizbul Mujahideen militant and atleast six policemen including an officer were injured in clashes that broke out in South Kashmir district of Pulwama and authorities had to impose curfew like restrictions after killing of a militant in an encounter last night.
Deputy Inspector General of Police, South Kashmir, Vijay Kumar, told Excelsior that police achieved a major success today by arresting a top Hizbul Mujahideen militant, Mubarak Ahmad Wani alias Major Saqib, in Anantnag. “One AK-47 Rifles and some ammunition was recovered from his possession”, he added.
Kumar said that Wani was involved in killing of a Sarpanch in Pulwama in April last year besides two grenade attacks in Anatnag town last year. Wani was first arrested in 2007 and then released and was re-arrested and then released in 2012. After his release in 2012, he again joined militancy and was arrested by police after a tip off.
And one of the militants who was trapped by security forces in village Kangan in Pulwama district last night escaped from the cordon while police recovered body of a militant from the debris of the house that was damaged in last night’s gun battle.
And as security forces were conducting searches in village Kangan in Pulwama district, authorities in a bid to stop people from marching towards the village imposed curfew like restrictions in the town. People amid curfew like restrictions clashed with the police and Para-military forces at several places in the district.
A local militant Aijaz Ahmed Bhat son of Jalal-u-Din Bhat resident of Chersoo Pulwama belonging to Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) was killed in village Kangan last night after security forces cordoned the village following a militant attack on a police party.
A police spokesman said here that last evening, on a specific information Police, 55RR and CRPF launched a joint operation in village Kangan in Pulwama. “The hiding militant fired on the joint party. In the ensuing encounter one terrorist of LeT was killed. He has been identified as Ajaz Ahmad Bhat son of Jalal-u-Din resident of Chersoo, Awantipora”, the spokesman added.
Police spokesman said: “Bhat was involved in a number of militant activities including the one in Awantipora market in which two civilians including a lady were injured. Arms Ammunition have been recovered from the encounter site.”
As soon as the news about the death of the local militant spread in the area, people of the adjoining area started marching towards encounter site and authorities imposed curfew like restrictions.
A group of people assembled near Muran Chowk and Tahab road in Pulwama and clashed with Police and CRPF personnel that were deployed in the town to prevent any protests.
Sources said that five police personnel including SHO Pulwama, Sabzar Ahmed and two CRPF men were injured in stone pelting.
Stone-pelting was also reported from Kakapora, however, authorities laid barricades near Railway Bridge and dispersed the protesters.
A large group of people came out in Chersoo on Jammu-Srinagar National Highway and blocked it resulting in traffic jam for several hours and they took the body of Bhat from Awantipora to Chersoo in a procession.
In the meantime, Police and Army conducted joint operations in several areas of North Kashmir’s Baramulla district after inputs of militant presence in these areas.
Sources said that 13 and 52 RR of Army conducted searches in Gund-e-Jehangir, 46 and 55 RR at Khawajabagh Baramalla and 52 RR of Army at Juhama Baramulla and near Railway track in district Baramulla after reported presence of militants in the area.
Security forces also conducted searches in Shiva, Dangarpora and Warpora areas of Sopore in North Kashmir after abduction of one Mushtaq Ahmad Changa of Armpora from Sopore this week.

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