3 militants killed, AGuH chief trapped in Shopian encounter

IGP chairs yatra security arrangements meeting

Fayaz Bukhari
Srinagar Apr 8: Three militants were killed in an ongoing encounter that raged between militants and security forces in Jan Mohalla in South Kashmir’s Shopian district today.
Three militants were killed in the gunfight so far while chief of AGuH (Jaish-e-Mohammad) has been trapped in the area.

Click here to watch video

An official said that those killed have been identified as Imtiaz Ahmad of Dadsar Tral in Pulwama district, Adil Lone of Khasipora in Shopian and Muzamil Tantray of Jamnagri in district Shopian.
Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kashmir Range and GOC Victor Force rushed to the gunfight site and are personally monitoring the situation as the militants were trapped in Central Jamia Masjid Jan Mohalla Shopian.
An official said that the operation will take time as sanctity of the Mosque is top priority. The cordon around the area has been tightened and lights installed.
Earlier in the day, a group of youth pelted stones at the security forces to disrupt the operation. However, security forces engaged them and they were chased away.
Meanwhile, police in a tweet informed that a top commander has been trapped in the area.
“#ShopianEncounterUpdate: Chief of proscribed #terrorist outfit AGuH (JeM) trapped. #Operation going on. Further details shall follow,” Kashmir Zone Police tweeted.
Earlier, police said that a joint team of Police, Army and CRPF launched a cordon and search operation on specific information about the presence of militants in the area.
He said that as the troops approached towards the suspected spot, the hiding militants fired upon them, which was retaliated, thus triggering an encounter in which three militants were killed. He said that the militants have not been identified yet.
Three soldiers were also injured in the gun battle. Two of the injured have been shifted to 92-Army Base Hospital for treatment.
Meanwhile, the mobile internet has been suspended in twin districts of South Kashmir including Pulwama and Shopian as precautionary measure.
In the meantime, IGP Kashmir Vijay Kumar chaired a meeting with the senior officers of Srinagar, Budgam, Bandipora and Ganderbal districts at PCR Kashmir in which threadbare discussions were held regarding overall security arrangements to be adopted for this year’s Amarnathji yatra.
The IGP Kashmir was briefed by the officers through detailed presentations about the proposed security measures to be put in place for the upcoming Yatra. The presentation included various security aspects including proposed deployments, arrangements for camp security, road opening parties, general security scenario in their respective areas, preparation for disaster management and cut off timings.
The role and responsibilities of all the security agencies involved in making security related arrangements were also discussed in the meeting.
Addressing the participants, the IGP Kashmir stressed on the need of adopting proactive and coordinated approach towards ensuring adequate arrangements for smooth and successful conduct of yatra.
The officers were directed to ensure better coordination & synergy among different security agencies working on ground and prepare the exhaustive security plan/ arrangements as per the ground situation/requirement in their respective areas for peaceful yatra. Kumar also directed the officers to make adequate use of modern technology for enhancing the security surveillance grid.
The IGP Kashmir directed to maintain strict surveillance over the anti-social and anti-national elements who are hell bent towards disrupting the peaceful atmosphere and create law and order problems for their vested interests.
He also directed the officers to carry out exercise and select strategic locations where drones can be used and CCTVs can be installed besides establishing round the clock nakas at cut-off points.
Keeping in view the COVID-19 pandemic, the officers were also directed by the IGP Kashmir to make all possible arrangements at district levels so as to meet any exigency or medical emergency on the ground.
He also emphasized upon the officers to strengthen the intelligence grid and maintain strict vigil over the terrorist associates and other anti-national elements and take all necessary steps under law against them. He further advised the officers to maintain highest level of alertness in view of the inputs received from different agencies so as to thwart the plans to disrupt the yatra.