In the first major operation during Governor’s rule, security forces on Friday killed four Islamic State Jammu-Kashmir (ISJK)-affiliated militants in south Kashmir’s Anantnag. One civilian and a policeman also died in the encounter.
Over 30 people, including 10 security personnel and a woman, were injured in the clashes and a grenade attack.
Meanwhile, Hizbul Mujahideen cautioned its cadre to “stay safe” and “intensify attacks at an opportune time.”
“The four bodies recovered at the encounter site were identified as terrorists affiliated to ISJK. Involved in several attacks, they were radicalised online and inspired by online groups. The group is almost eliminated,” said Director General of Police S.P. Vaid.
The militants were trapped inside the house of Mohammad Yousuf Rather, 53, in Srigufwara’s Nowshar-Khiram area.
‘Inspired by the ISIS module’
The police have identified the militants killed in south Kashmir’s Anantnag on Friday as Dawood Ahmad Sofi from Srinagar, Majid Manzoor Dar from Pulwama, Aadil Rehman Bhat from Bijbehara and Mohammad Ashraf Itoo from Srigufwara.
“Sofi, 33, was involved in stone-pelting cases, before joining the (ISJK). He was behind the killing of two policemen and suspected in a rifle-snatching incident in Srinagar,” said the police.
Affiliated to Tehreek-ul-Mujahideen (TuM) earlier, the social media profiling and inputs indicate that they were inspired by the ISIS module, the police said.
Earlier, three IS-affiliates were killed on March 11 in south Kashmir. The group is headed by Zakir Musa and its strength is in single digit now, according to the police.
Meanwhile, the encounter also left a Special Operations Group (SOG) man, Ashiq Hussian, dead. Two Army men were injured.
Over 20 youth were injured in the clashes, with at least five sustaining bullet wounds, around the encounter site. Fierce stone-pelting was also reported from Anantnag, Pulwama and Srinagar’s Jamia Masjid and HMT area. Internet was suspended in the three districts.
“I am dismayed over the civilian casualty in Khiram. It’s painful to see innocents becoming victims and families suffering,” said Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leader Abdul Rahman Veeri.
Hurriyat chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq warned that “pushing the youth to the wall and using ultimate repression is destined to boomerang and take an ugly shape.”
Meanwhile, the police said nine security personnel were injured when militants threw a grenade “from a crowd” in Tral during a law and order problem.
Claiming responsibility for the grenade attack, Hizb-ul-Mujahideen spokesman Burhan-ud-Din said, “The field operational commander has directed its cadre to stay safe and speed up such attacks at opportune time.”
