Militant, civilian bodies recovered; exams postponed
Fayaz Bukhari
SRINAGAR, Mar 5: Security forces today achieved a major success by killing mastermind behind last month’s Sunjawan Army base attack in which 10 persons including six army personnel were killed.
Operational commander of Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM), Mufti Waqas alias Abu Arsalan, was killed this evening at Hatwar in Awantipora area of Pulwama district in a brief encounter by security forces.
Sources said that as security forces cordoned off Hatwar village near Srinagar-Jammu National Highway, the militant commander came out of the house in which he was hiding and opened fire on the troops, who fired back and killed him on the spot. The firing lasted for few minutes and operation was called off immediately. One pistol and three grenades were recovered from his possession.
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Waqas, who infiltrated into Kashmir early last year, revived Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) in Kashmir. He was mastermind behind major attacks in Kashmir including attack on District Police Lines (DPL) Pulwama on 26th August 2017, Lethpora Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) camp on 1st January 2018 and Sunjwan Army camp on 10th February 2018 and attack on BSF near Srinagar Airport.
Srinagar based Defence spokesman, Colonel Rajesh Kalia, said: “Based on specific intelligence of presence of a terrorist in the area of Hatwar Awantipur, a joint specific operation was launched today by 50 RR, JKP & CRPF. During the operation the mastermind of Sunjawan terrorist attack and Letapore terrorist attack Jaish e Mohammed operational commander Mufti Waqas, Cat A++, was eliminated in a surgical operation.”
“This has resulted in a major dent to the designs of JeM as after elimination of their earlier operational commander Noor Mohd Tantrey in the same area in December 2017, his successor too has now been killed”, the spokesman said.
A Police spokesman said Waqas was the chief architect of attacks on security forces including but not limited to DPL Pulwama on 26th August 2017, Lethpora CRPF camp on 1st January 2018 and Sunjwan Army camp on 10th February 2018.
The spokesman said that from his possession one weapon, war like stores and other incriminating material was recovered. “In this regard, case FIR No. 34/2018 under section 307 RPC, 7/27 Arms Act has been registered in the police Station Awantipora and investigation has been taken up”, he added.
Meanwhile, death toll in the militant attack on Army in Pahoo village of Shopian and Army retaliation has gone up to six as two bodies were recovered from the area this morning.
Police recovered body of a civilian, Gowhar Ahmad Lone, 24, of Moolu, Trenz some 250 meters at Pahnoo Shopian. He was found dead in his car (Wagon-R) bearing registration number JK01Q- 1723. He was pursuing MP Ed at Nagpur University in Maharashtra.
Police also found body of a LeT militant from apple orchard at Saidipora village in Shopian district this morning. He was identified as Ashiq Hussain Bhat son of Mohammad Ishaq Bhat of Rakhpora Shopian. He had joined militancy last year and was active in the area.
The orchard from where the body has been recovered is eight to ten kilometers from the spot where five persons including a militant and four civilians were killed by the army.
Sources said that Bhat was critically injured at Pahoo and fled from the spot under the cover of darkness but succumbed to injuries.
The Brigade Commander of 12 Sector of RR, Brigadier Harbir Singh and Colonel 44-RR Colonel DS Negi while giving details of the incident said that a group of terrorists was moving in Pahoo Shopian last night. “They fired at an army vehicle and in the firefight two terrorists were killed and three additional persons were also killed”, said Brigadier Singh.
Col Negi said that an army party was about to lay an ambush when two vehicles came and they were asked to stop but they didn’t and opened fire on army. “One terrorist who was killed fell from the vehicle while other persons in the vehicle died in the firing”, he said.
The CO said that the Army party came under fire from two vehicles. “We came to know that another terrorist has been found dead in Saidpora. We have recovered AK-74 rifle and three magazines form the first terrorist”, he said.
Brigadier Singh said that there was no specific input about militants travelling in vehicles but of late there were reports of increased movement of militants.
Large number of people today participated in the funeral of killed civilians and militants during which protests broke out.
Mohammad Abbass, the brother Sohail Ahmad Wagay said that his brother called him at 7:24 pm. “He told me that he reached Pehlipora after dropping mother at sister residence. After about half an hour, we heard the shocking news about his killing along with two other youth. The army is telling lies that he or two other youth were over ground workers (OGWs),” he said.
He said that Shahnawaz was working as an employee in their house.
Meanwhile, police filed FIR under No. 54/ 2018 u/s 307 RPC, 7/27 I A Act with regard to the incident and started further investigations into it. The case was registered after the army unit filed a report with regard to the incident.
And Kashmir valley today observed shutdown against Shopian killings even as authorities imposed restrictions in parts of Srinagar, closed colleges and schools, postponed all exams and suspended train and internet services.
Separatist had called for the Valley-wide shutdown to protests against the killings. Shops and business establishments remained closed in most parts of Kashmir while public transport was off the roads due to the strike. However, private cars were plying in the civil lines area of the city.
Minor clashes took place at several areas including Bagh-i-Mehtab, Mochow, Kadlibal Pampore, Sharja Ground Bemina, near MLA’s residence in Shopian, Jogi Lanker Raniwari, HMT and Ziyarat Sharief Syed Manssor Sahb near Chota Bazar Srinagar.
Authorities had put parts of Srinagar including Old City and Maisuma under strict restrictions to prevent any violence.
Internet services were snapped in Shopian and Pulwama last evening while as speed was reduced elsewhere in the Valley since morning.
The railway authorities suspended train services. A railway official said the decision was taken in wake of the apprehensions of law and order in the Valley.
All the schools and colleges remained closed while exams were postponed for Monday. The Colleges and schools will remain closed for next two days and will open on Thursday.
“All the schools of Kashmir Division shall remain closed on 6th and 7th March 2018 and the scheduled papers on these dates of the biannual examinations for 10th and 12th classes of JKBOSE in Kashmir Division including Kargil are also postponed,” an official statement issued here said.
“In view of concerns expressed by students, Kashmir University has postponed all examinations scheduled for March 5, 2018 (Monday). Fresh dates for the deferred examinations shall be notified separately, later”, PRO KU in a statement issued here said.
The PRO further said: “In view of concerns expressed by students and consequent upon the prevailing circumstances, the class-work at University of Kashmir shall remain suspended on March 6, 2018 (Tuesday)”.
“Furthermore, all examinations scheduled to be held on March 6 and March 7 (Tuesday and Wednesday) are postponed. Fresh dates for the deferred examinations shall be notified separately, later,” the PRO added.
Meanwhile, the Public Service Commission (PSC) has notified that the examination for papers in Zoology-II, Physics-II, Commerce & Accountancy-II, Management- II and Anthropology- II and Sociology-II of J&K Combined Competitive (Main) Examination, 2016 scheduled to be held on Tuesday and Wednesday respectively have been postponed.
The revised schedule for the papers shall be notified separately.
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