Fayaz Bukhari
SRINAGAR, Apr 14: Over 32 people including, 20 police men, were injured in clashes in Tral area of South Kashmir today during which protesters snatched rifle from a Central Reserve Police (CRPF) personnel. Army recovered body of a militant from Kamla forests who was injured in the encounter yesterday.
Protests continued for the second day today in Tral and its adjoining areas against killing of Khalid Muzafar Wani, brother of Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) commander by Army. At least one dozen persons were injured in clashes that last for whole day today between stone throwing protesters and Police and CRPF. Police fired tear smoke shells to disperse the protesters.
At least one dozen protesters were injured in the clashes and they include Mehraj-ud-Din Bhat of Tral Bala, Abdul Rashid Hajam of Arigam, Irshad Ahmad Dar of Arigam, Ashiq Hussain Sheikh of Monghama, Gowhar Sheikh of Gulab Bagh, Waseem Ahmad Kumar of Gulshanpora, Bilal Ahmad Mir of Tral, Mohammad Iqbal Sheikh of Tral, Waris Najar of Tral, Owais Nabi Bhat of Tral, Omar Bashir of Tral and Subzar Ahmad of Tral.
Protesters snatched rifle from a CRPF man during the clashes. Inspector General of Police, Kashmir, SJM Gillani said here that police exercised even after the rifle was snatched from a CRPF personnel. “There were instances of stone pelting in Tral and surrounding areas today but the police and paramilitary forces exercised restraint even after a rifle of CRPF personnel deployed on duty was snatched”, he said.
IGP said that 32 people including 20 police men were injured in the clashes.
Gillani, while giving details about the Tral gun battle told a press conference here today that yesterday a routine patrol of the Army had gone into Kamla forests, Tral wherein it came under fire from the terrorists who were hiding there.
“Thereafter, dead body of one Khalid Muzafar Wani was recovered from the spot. Two AK 47 rifles were also recovered. One of the rifle recovered was the one which had been snatched from a policeman last year on August 12”, said Gillani.
The IGP said that investigation conducted so far have revealed that Khalid along with three of his associates had gone to Kamla forests to meet his brother Burhan, an active militant of Tral and his associates. “While they were having the meeting they saw the approaching Army patrol which lead to exchange of fire”, he said.
“Today during search of the area, one more dead body was recovered. The deceased has been identified as Younis Ahmad Ganaie, an active terrorist of Tral. The deceased was involved in the incident of April 6 relating to firing on one Rafiq Dada in Tral”, said Gillani.
A Defence spokesman said here today that as a result of the ongoing search operations in Tral area of South Kashmir, one more dead body recovered from the area where operations had been conducted yesterday.
“Body has been identified to be that of Younis Ahmad Ganie, resident of Kausarbal Payeen, Tral, a local terrorist who was involved in injury to Rafiq Dada, a surrendered terrorist on April 6, 2015. It has been confirmed that Khalid Wani, who has been operating as Over Ground Worker, had taken the three youth who were later arrested by Police, to meet Burhan for their recruitment into terrorist organization. The incident has thus prevented the three youth from being misguided by late Khalid Wani into joining the militant ranks”, the spokesman said.
The spokesman said: “As a result of terrorist initiated acts in recent past, area domination patrols have been actively operating in Tral area. At approx 5 p.m. on April 13, 2015, one patrol party operating at Kamla Forest was fired upon by terrorists”, he said.
“One soldier suffered gun shot wound. The fire fight ensued with terrorists. Once the firing subsided, search of the area was undertaken from which a body alongwith two AK 47 rifles and warlike stores were recovered from the site. Later the body was identified to be of the listed Over Ground Worker Khalid Wani, brother of Burhan, HM Commander, South Kashmir. Out of the two AK 47 rifles recovered from the site, one AK was the one that was snatched from JK Police personnel on Aug 8, 2014. Three youth were also arrested from the area by Police”, the spokesman said.
The spokesman said: “Consequent to questioning of the three arrested youth by Police, it was learnt that Khalid had taken them with him to the place where Burhan and three other terrorists were hiding. Khalid left three youth little away from where he was meeting Burhan. Once the patrol party was fired upon, these youth ran towards the area where Army soldiers were located. They were allowed to move out of the site to safety. Later, Police apprehended them for interrogation.”
The spokesman said that the operation is still in progress to pursue the escaped militants and to search the area in case any one of them got injured. “The injured Army soldier was evacuated to the Base Hospital at Srinagar where he is recovering”, he added.
Refuting the claims of Army and Police that the youth Mohammad Khalid Wani killed in Kamla Forest Tral encounter was a listed Over Ground Worker (OGW) and not a civilian, father of Wani, Muzaffar Ahmad, said that his son was killed due to physical torture and he had not received any bullet on any part of the body.
Muzaffar said that his son was working as an operator in a computer laboratory in the town. “He and his friends decided to go for a picnic to Ganishbal, which is a picnic spot,” he said.
Father of Wani said that they went in search of water to Kamla forests where they were stopped by an Army patrol party. “He was beaten up severely when they came to know that he was brother of Burhan”, he said.
Large number of people today attended funeral of Ganie and Wani at Tral.
Meanwhile, expressing anguish over the killing of Mohammad Khalid Wani of Tral, People ‘s Democratic Party (PDP) President and Member Parliament, Mehbooba Mufti today said it is a highly unfortunate and tragic incident which could have been and should have been avoided.
“It is very unfortunate that another innocent boy got killed leaving another family in trauma. We condemn such acts and express our heartfelt solidarity with the bereaved family,” Mehbooba said in a statement.
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