Fayaz Bukhari
Srinagar, Sept 14: In a major setback to Hizbul Mujahideen splinter group, Lashkar-e-Islam, headed by Qayoom Najjar, three of his associate were found dead today in Pattan area of North Kashmir’s Baramulla district.
Panic gripped Pattan area of North Kashmir’s Baramulla district after locals found three bullet ridden bodies of Lashkar-e-Islam (LeI) militants in local orchards. All of them were tortured before they were killed.
Immediately after the incident, there were protests in Pattan area and the town observed shut down.
Locals spotted three bodies of youth in orchards of Shutz Dangerpora village on Nihalpora-Wailo road in Pattan area and they immediately informed the Police. Police reached the spot and took the bodies for postmortem and other legal formalities.
All the three men have been identified and they are aides of Qayoom Najjar whose group as per police was behind the attacks on cellular companies and killing of three former militants, one of whom was member of hard line separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani’s outfit.
Police identified them as 17 year Amir Reshi, son of Ghulam Qadir Reshi of Yamberzalvari Payeen Hardshiva Sopore, 21-year-old Ashiq Wani son of Mohammad Ramzan Wani of Lolipora, Pattan and Naveed Ahmad Khan son of Ghulam Hassan Khan of Batpora, Sopore. The bodies were handed over to their relatives for last rites.
Amir’s was missing from his home since July 15 this year while as Ashiq was missing since June 2014 and were associated with militant outfit Lashkar-e-Islam. Naveed was an IT engineer who did his engineering from Chandigarh and joined militancy last year soon after he finished his course. His family had lodged a missing report with Police Station Sopore in October last year.
Amir father, Ghulam Rasool said that his son went missing on July 15 this year and they lodged a complaint with Police Station Bomai in Sopore. He said that later they came to know about his affiliation with the militants. “Police and army continuously used to come to our house, insisting to help them in motivating him for surrender”, he added.
Ashiq Wani was a Law student of Central University and was studying his last semester when he joined the militancy. He was affiliated with Hizbul Mujahideen but later joined LeI.
Naveed was said to be communication expert and he had installed a communication device on a cell phone tower early this year. After the device was spotted and removed, it led to attacks on cellular companies by the LeI.
Earlier on September 2, LeI militant, Reyaz Ahmad Mir was killed in a fierce gun battle at Ladoora in Rafiabad in district Baramulla. Prior to this on August 3, body of LeI deputy, Tariq Ahmad Mir alias Tariq Mawar was fished out from Ferozpora Nallah at Naidkhai in Bandipora district.
The LeI against whom security forces had launched massive operation in June this year has almost been wiped out now. The outfit has been left with its head Qayoom Najjar who is one of the dreaded and most wanted militants in North Kashmir and his deputy Imtiaz Ahmad Kandu and a few more militants.
Najjar is thought to have left for undisclosed location after he handed over his son to his parents and asked them to take care of the child.
LeI was disowned by Hizbul Mujahideen and they were alleged to have been working for security agencies. However, LeI had denied the allegations. Police suspects group rivalry behind the killing of three LeI men.
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