Fayaz Bukhari
SRINAGAR, Sept 2: A militant and a soldier were killed and another was injured during a 9-hour fierce gun battle in Ladoora area of Rafiabad in Baramulla district today. The militant was involved in the attacks on cellular companies early this year and killing of six civilians including former militants and Hurriyat activists.
Reports said that the security forces received information about the presence of two militants of Lashkar-e-Islam (LeI) including Imtiaz Kandu and Riyaz Ahmad in a house in Ladoora area of Rafiabad. As the troops cordoned off the village, Kandu fled while his associate was trapped inside the house.
Reports said that the militants of Lashkar-e-Islam had received weapons and some ammunition when troops cordoned off the village.
The encounter between security forces continued till evening in which one soldier was killed and troops later on blasted off the house killing the holed up militant. He has been identified as Riyaz Ahmad of Brath Kalan Sopore who was an associate of LeI chief Qayoom Najjar.
Riyaz was involved in a number of killings in Sopore and adjoining areas. He was involved in threatening the land lords of mobile towers and mobile franchise owners. Police said he was involved in the killing of a BSNL franchise in June, two employees were injured in this incident. A number of FIR’s stand registered against the militant in different Police Stations.
Riyaz Ahmed Mir alias Gosha son of Mohammad Ashraf Mir resident of Brath Kalan Sopore joined HM outfit last year. He was operating along with Imtiyaz Kandoo alias Fayaz and Adil Mir of HM.
Police said that on December 20, 2014, Riyaz along with Mehraj Halwai and Adil Mir killed Bomai Sarpanch, Ghulam Mohammad Bhat son of Mohammad Jamal Bhat resident of Bomai. An FIR No. 93/2014 under Section 302 RPC, 7/27 IA Act was lodged in Police Station Bomai.
Police said Mir was involved in grenade blast in Dangerpora orchards in which three civilians got killed. In this connection FIR No. 167/2014 under Section 04/05 Exp. Sub. Act dated 12-10-2014 stands registered in Police Station Sopore. He was involved in grenade attack on police and Army at Kupwara crossing.
“On 21-02 -2014 he killed one civilian Waseem Malla son of Mehraj-ud-Din Malla resident of Bagh-i-Islam. An FIR No. 25/2014 under Section 302 RPC 7/27 A Act dated 21-02-2014 stands registered in Police Station Tarzoo”, police said.
Police said: “On 25-05-2015 subject along with other accomplices was involved in the killing of Mohammad Rafiq resident of Pohrupeth Handwara. A case FIR No. 103/2015 under Sections 302, 307 RPC 7/27 IA act was registered in Police Station Sopore. The slain militant was involved in terrorizing landlords of mobile towers. In this regard FIR No. 100/2015 under Section 7/27, 506 RPC in Police Station Sopore was lodged.”
“On 26-05-2015 he along with Adil Mir killed Ghulam Hassan of Dooru Sopore, landlord of a cellular tower. A case FIR No. 105/ 2015 under Section 302 RPC, 7/27 IA Act stands registered in Police Station Sopore. He was also involved in killing of one Hurriyat activist Sheikh Altaf-ur-Rehman son of Mohammad Yousuf Sheikh resident of Iqbal Nagar Sopore at bus stand Sopore on 09-06-2015. A case FIR No. 115/2015 dated 09-06-2015 stands registered in Police Station Sopore in this regard”, police said.
Police said that Riyaz was also involved in the killing of one Hurriyat activist Khursheed Ahmad Bhat son of Ghulam Nabi Bhat resident of Bomai Sopore outside his home on 09-06-2015. “A case FIR No. 36/2015 on 12-06-2015 in Police Station Bomai was registered in this regard. He was involved in the killing of one ex-militant Mehraj-ud-Din Dar son of Mohammad Ahsan Dar resident of Badambagh Sopore on 14-06-2015. He was involved in the killing of ex-militant Aijaz Ahmad Reshi son of Abdul Rahim Reshi resident of Mundji Sopore on 15-06-2015”, police added.
Police said that on a specific information Sopore Police along with 32 RR launched a cordon and search operation in Ladoora, Rafiaebad Sopore. “During the search militant present in a house fired upon the joint search party. The fire was retaliated. In the ensuing encounter one militant identified as Riyaz Ahmad resident of Brath Kalan, Sopore was killed while two Army Jawans were injured. One of them later on succumbed to his injuries”, the spokesman said.
Police said that one AK 47 rifle, 2 AK magazines and AK rounds were recovered from the encounter site.
A Defence spokesman said that acting upon specific intelligence of SOG about the presence of some militants in Ladura, Rafiabad in Baramulla district, a joint operation was launched by the Army and JKP in the early hours today.
“The cordon was established by day break and the Security Forces moved close to the suspected house while carefully evacuating people including women and children from their houses to minimize any collateral damage. As the noose was tightened around the suspected house, the terrorists opened indiscriminate fire. The response by the security forces was restrained to avoid loss of life and damage to civilian property”, the spokesman said.
The spokesman said: “the operations, which were terminated in the evening, resulted in elimination of one terrorist identified as HM operative Riyaz Ahmed Mir of Bharat Kalan, Sopore and recovery of three AK-47 rifles alongwith other warlike stores. One soldier of the Army also attained martyrdom while fighting the terrorists.”
In the meantime, militants fired an Army and police patrol at Vilgam, Hanwara in the frontier district of Kupwara this evening. The troops fired back leading to a brief gun battle. However, militant managed to flee under the cover of darkness. Security forces cordoned the area and searches will be conducted in the morning.
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