Fayaz Bukhari
Srinagar, Oct 14: A top Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) commander was among two militants killed in an encounter in Pulwama district of South Kashmir today while a civilian was also killed in the clashes that followed and a cop was killed and another injured in a militant attack in Kulgam district this evening.
Police, Army’s 3-Rashtriya Rifles (RR), 55 RR, 182 and 183 Battalion of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) cordoned off Litter village in South Kashmir’s Pulwama district after inputs about the presence of militants in the village.
The militants were hiding in the house of former militant Pintu Malik and when security forces encircled the house, the holed up militants opened fire on the security forces resulting in an encounter.
Click here to watch video
In gunfight that lasted for over an hour, Lashkar’s district commander, Waseem Ahmad Shah alias Abu Usama Bhai son of Ghulam Mohammad Shah resident of Heff Shirmal, Shopian, was killed along with an associate Nisar Ahmad Mir son of Abdul Hameed Mir, resident of Litter village of Pulwama.
Waseem Shah was Lashkar’s district commander and was involved in several militancy related incidents. “He had joined militant ranks in March 2014. He was involved in number of FIRs viz 19/2014, 37/2014, 47/2014, 27/2015, 17/2016, 45/2016 30/2017, 02/2017, 50/2017 of P/S Zainapora and 107/2014, 130/2014, 87/2015 of P/S Shopian. His associate Nisar had joined militant ranks this year. Two AK 47 rifles and ammunition was recovered from the encounter site,” the police said. He was a close associate of militant commander Burhan Wani who was killed last year.
One civilian was killed and four others were injured as clashes broke out between protesters and security forces in Litter area of Pulwama after killing of two militants.
Security forces used teargas, pellets and fired some gun shots in which one civilian identified as Gulzar Ahmad Mir of Illahi Bagh Lassipora Pulwama was killed and four others were injured. The slain was hit by a bullet and succumbed in hospital.
However, a police spokesman said that the civilian was hit during cross firing. “Gulzar Ahmad Mir lost his life in the cross firing and one more civilian who was identified as Mohammad Ashraf Mir son of Mohammad Abdullah Mir resident of Litter also sustained injuries. The injured person is undergoing treatment at SKIMS, Soura,” he said.
Large number of people attended the funeral of both the militants in their respective villages. Major parts of Pulwama and Shopian districts observed shutdown. The authorities also downgraded mobile Internet services to 2G in both the districts. Police said that the day passed off peacefully.
In the meantime, a policeman was killed after militants opened indiscriminate fire on police vehicles at Kulgam district of South Kashmir this evening.
A police spokesman said that a police team on duty for medical camp, comprising the AST team and a bunker vehicle while returning from duty was fired upon by the hiding militants at Nandinarg crossing in DH Pora area of Kulgam.
“The police party retaliated and due to brave retaliatory action, police foiled the attempt of weapon snatching conspired by the militants,” he said.
The spokesman said that during attack, driver of the AST vehicle Khurshid Ahmad Tak got injured in the firing of the militants. “Despite being injured, he displayed conspicuous act of courage by successfully taking the vehicle out of arch of fire and saved life of others. He attained martyrdom in the process,” he said.
The spokesman, meanwhile, denied that the attack was on cavalcade of MLA Noorabad. “The news item regarding the attack on the Hon’ble legislator Noorabad is incorrect and is denied,” he said, adding that perpetrators behind this attack have been identified as Gulzar Paddar group and Umar Majid Ganie group of Hizbul Mujahideen. “In this connection investigation was also set into motion,” he said.
Follow our WhatsApp channel
