The police on Friday killed a militant, believed to be the brain behind multiple attacks in Srinagar, in Shopian of south Kashmir. The militant was also considered close to Islamic State Jammu and Kashmir (ISJK) chief Zakir Musa.
According to the police, Ishfaq Ahmad Sofi, alias Umar, died in a brief exchange of fire during a cordon and search operation in the Ram Nagri area at Hirpora.
The police said, Sofi, a resident of Model Town-B, Sopore, had been associated with the Harkat-ul-Mujahideen (HuM) since 2015.
“Sofi along with his other associates were involved in a series of terror crimes including grenade attacks on a CRPF bunker at Safa Kadal, Soura and a police station at Khanyar. He was also part of groups which had carried out attacks on security establishments in the area,” the police said.
The police said the militant was arrested in 2016 but he went back to militancy in 2018 when he was out on bail. Police sources said Sofi had quit HuM and was among the few remaining associates of ISJK chief Musa.
Meanwhile, a shutdown was observed in parts of Sopore after the militant’s killing. All educational institutions, including colleges and higher secondary schools, were closed in Sopore for the day “as a precautionary measure.” Clashes broke out outside Jamia Masjid after Friday prayers in Srinagar between security forces and a group of local people.
