Four militants, including one who took part in the abduction and killing of Army soldier Aurangzeb last year, were killed in twin operations in Kashmir on Saturday.
The police said militants Showkat Dar from Pulwama’s Panzgam, Irfan War from Baramulla’s Sopore and Muzaffar Sheikh from Pulwama’s Tahab, were encircled in a midnight operation at Pulwama’s Panzgam.
They were killed in the gunfight that lasted for several hours. A house was damaged in the operation. The police said the trio was affiliated to Hizb-ul-Mujahideen.
“Dar has a long history of planning and executing a series of terror attacks. He was part of a group involved in the kidnapping and killing of jawan Aurangzeb and policeman Aqib Ahmad Wagay last year,” said the police. Dar was active for around four years in south Kashmir.
The killing of Aurangzeb was videographed on June 14 last. The soldier, who hailed from Rajouri, was abducted from Pulwama’s Kalampora area and his body was recovered from Gusoo village.
The police said War and Sheikh were also behind several attacks on security establishments. “Incriminating materials, including arms and ammunition, was recovered from the site of encounter. It has been taken in the case records for the purpose of investigation and to probe their complicity in other crimes,” the police added.
Protests against killings erupt
Sporadic protests followed the killing of the Hizb militants in parts of Pulwama. Local youth flung rocks at security personnel and their vehicles, but were chased away with tear smoke shells and pellet shotgun.
In an operation in north Kashmir in the afternoon, security forces killed a militant during a cordon and search operation at Hathlangoo area in Sopore, Baramulla.
“The body has been retrieved and arms and ammunition recovered. The identity of the slain militant is being established,” said the police.
Internet service was downed in Sopore to keep protesters at bay. These encounters also impacted the intra-Kashmir train services all day.
In another pre-dawn operation, militants and security forces exchanged fire in Anantnag, but “the contact was lost as the militants fled under the cover of darkness”.
Nine militants killed in past one week
Nine militants were killed in the past one week in Kashmir as the security forces stepped up operations.On Thursday, five militants were killed in two encounters in south Kashmir. Two civilians and two soldiers also lost their lives in the operations.
The incidents come despite several regional parties such as the People's Democratic Party and the J&K People's Movement, pitching for a Ramzan ceasefire like last year when Mehbooba Mufti offered a unilateral halt to operations against militants.
Around 85 militants have been killed in the Valley between January and May, according to police data.
