Militants’ killings trigger protests in Srinagar

Protesters clash with the police near the site of a gunbattle in Srinagar, inwhich two militants were killed, on Tuesday. Photo: Nissar Ahmad

A surgical operation of the police’s Special Operations Group that left two militants dead in a Srinagar’s commercial hub on Monday night, sparked protests on Tuesday by local residents who alleged that the duo were killed in a staged encounter.

According to Director-General of Police (DGP) K. Rajendra, one slain militant was identified as Saifullah, a foreigner. The other remains unidentified. “One AK-47, one pistol and other weapons were recovered from the encounter site,” Mr. Rajendra said.

The operation was launched around 9.30 p.m. on Monday, on a day when the police lost three of their men in twin militant attacks in the city.

Local residents told

The Hindu a posse of policemen cordoned off the busy market of Sarai Balla near Lal Chowk on Monday night and chased people away from the streets. I saw a youth being dragged out from a house. He was pleading with the security forces that he was ready to accompany him. However, he was shot dead,” said a local youth living in the neighbourhood.

‘There was no encounter’

“We heard gunshots. But there was no encounter as such. We heard no exchange,” claimed a female neighbour.

Raja Begum, who owns the house, claimed the two boys were staying in her rented accommodation for around a week.

“They introduced themselves as students of the nearby Amar Singh College and said they hailed from south Kashmir. They carried books and a laptop,” said Ms. Begum, whose grandson has been taken into custody by the police.

The killings sparked protests in the area. The police used tear-gas shells to disperse the protesters, who raised pro-militant slogans.

In the past too, mysterious killings of militants have been reported in the Valley.

Hizbul Mujahideen chief Syed Salahuddin’s bodyguard Shakeel Ahmad Kasana was killed in a grenade blast on July 17, 2013 in Srinagar while he was being ferried to the Baramulla district jail. The Hizb had accused the security agencies for the blast.

In June, 2015, Pakistani prisoner Waheed Noor Khan died in a blast inside the Sopore court.