Geelani’s aide killed in Anantnag
Fayaz Bukhari
SRINAGAR, Nov 20: Four militants and a para commando were killed in an encounter between militants and security forces in Nadigam area of South Kashmir’s Shopian district this morning.
A Joint team of Army’s 34RR, 23 para and SOG Shopian launched an operation in Nadigam village of Shopian after inputs about presence of militants in the area. The hiding militants fired upon security forces, triggering a gunfight.
Four militants and one para commando were killed and three soldiers were injured in the encounter. The soldier has been identified as Lance Havildar Vijay Kumar. The injured have been identified as Sepoy Shailender Singh of 34 RR, Lance Naik Somveer of 23 para and Havaldar Bhupinder Singh of 23 para.
The killed militants have been identified as Abid Nazir Chopan of Padarpora, Basharat Nengroo of Chotigam Shopian, Mehraj-ud-Din Najar of Drawni and Malik Zada Inam-ul-Haq of Mantujan Shopian.
Police said that they were affiliated with outfit Hizbul Mujahideen and were involved in attacks on security establishments and many other civilian atrocities in the area.
Incriminating materials including huge quantity of arms and ammunition were recovered from the site of encounter. Police has registered a case and initiated investigation in the matter.
Meanwhile, following the killing of four militants, people mostly youth took to streets near the encounter site at Nadigam and its adjoining areas. Police and paramilitary forces deployed in the area fired tear smoke shells, pellets and some live ammunition to disperse the protesters resulting in injuries to eight people.
Three girls Simran Jan, Meenu Jan and Rafia Jan suffered bullet injuries while Bilal Ahmad suffered pellet injury in an eye during clashes with the security forces. Simran has suffered bullet injury in her abdomen while Meenu Jan and Rafia Jan have been hit by bullets in foot and leg respectively. Four persons were shifted to a hospital in Srinagar for specialised treatment.
Unidentified gunmen today barged into the house of Tehreek-e- Hurriyat district president, Hafizullah Mir, and fired at him and his wife at Badooda village in Achabal area of South Kashmir’s Anantnag district.
Mir was close aide of Hurriyat Conference chairman Syed Ali Shah Geeelani. He was shot in his house during which his wife was also injured.
A Police spokesman said: “Terrorists today barged inside the residential house of one Hafizullah Mir at Budoora Achabal district Anantnag and fired indiscriminately. In this incident Hafizullah sustained critical gun shot wounds and was evacuated to nearby hospital where he succumbed. Reportedly his wife also sustained injuries and is undergoing treatment at the nearby hospital. Police has registered a case under relevant sections of law and initiated investigation in the matter.”
Hurriyat Conference has condemned the killing of Mir and blamed security agencies for this. They called complete shutdown on November 22 and protests on November 23 against his killing.
Meanwhile, Army today paid tributes to late Lance Havildar Vijay Kumar. In a solemn ceremony at BB Cantt, Lt Gen AK Bhatt, Chinar Corps Commander and all ranks, paid tributes to the soldier.
Late Lance Havildar Vijay Kumar sustained bullet injury during the fierce operation at Nadigam village in Shopian district. He was provided immediate first aid and evacuated to 92 Base Hospital, but succumbed to his injuries.
Kumar, 37, had joined the Army in 2001. He belonged to village Sagwan of Tosham Tehsil in Bhiwani, Haryana and is survived by his wife and three children.
Meanwhile, unidentified persons tonight torched Panchayat Ghar in Mughalpora Tenghard in Pulwama district causing minor damage to it.
The fire was brought under control by locals. Minor damage was caused to the Panchayat Ghar. Over a dozen Panchayat Ghars were torched during past two months across Kashmir.
And militants tonight fired upon CRPF camp of 183 battalion at Newa, Pulwama.The CRPF retaliated. However, no loss of life or injury was reported.
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