Army orders inquiry into shepherd’s disappearance
Fayaz Bukhari
Srinagar, Sept 2: In a major success to the security forces, a Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) militant involved in the killing of an Army officer in South Kashmir in May this year was shot dead in an ambush in Kulgam district early today.
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Police said that on specific input, a joint team of Kulgam Police and 62-Rashtriya Rifles laid an ambush to trap the dreaded Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) militant. “The terrorists tried to escape and fired indiscriminately. The fire was retaliated during which one terrorist identified as Ishfaq Ahmad Padder, son of Abdul Rehman Padder, resident of Manchewa Yaripora of Kulgam district who was associated with LeT outfit was killed”, police said.
“The slain terrorist was involved in the brutal killing of 22-year-old Army officer Umar Fayaz in Shopian”, police said. The newly commissioned Lieutenant Umar Fayaz was abducted and killed by LeT terrorists in May, when he was attending a wedding of relative in Shopian.
Police said that Ishfaq Ahmad Padder was also involved in bank robberies at Kader branches of Jammu and Kashmir Bank and Ellaquai Dehati Bank. Besides, he was also involved in firing incident on Police Station Yaripora.
One AK 47 rifle, two AK 47 magazines, 42 AK 47 rounds and one pouch was seized from the encounter site.
Meanwhile, Army today ordered an inquiry into the allegations by locals that a youth went missing while another was beaten after they were detained by Army in North Kashmir’s Kupwara district on Thursday night.
A senior Army officer said that an inquiry has been initiated into the incident. “The matter is under investigation and action will be taken accordingly”, he said.
Locals allege that a youth, Manzoor Ahmad Khan has gone missing and another, Nasrullah Khan was beaten by Army. Khan, who is also close relative of Minister for Rural Development Abdul Haq Khan, is missing. People protested against Manzoor’s disappearance.
Police has already registered separate FIRs following Minister’s intervention following protests by locals in his constituency.
Locals allege that Manzoor and Nasrullah were allegedly detained by Army for questioning few days ago and were beaten. Later, as per locals, Nasrullah was released but whereabouts of Manzoor remain unknown. Both the youth are shepherds.
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