Pulwama remains on the boil

Video of operation leading to death of Sameer Bhat goes viral; police detain youth, seize posters

Tense moments: Residents watching the funeral procession of militant commander Sameer Bhat in Srinagar.

Pulwama, home district of slain Hizbul Mujahideen “commander” Sameer Bhat, alias Tiger, remained tense for the fifth day on Friday, as the video of Monday’s encounter that led to his death, went viral online.

The one-minute video, shot from a vehicle of the security forces, shows the last moments of the operation. Jubilant Army men are seen shouting “ Sameer agayee (Sameer has come)” as a person climbs on top of a concrete slab after the house is set on fire. The militant is seen opening fire as the Army retaliates, resulting in his death.

Challenge to officer

A day ahead of Monday’s operation, Sameer Tiger had released a video daring a Major to take him on in a one-on-one encounter. Within 24 hours, the Major was injured in the operation as his unit zeroed in on the militant at his native village of Drabgam in Pulwama on Monday.

Tension gripped Drubgam again on Thursday night after the police picked up nine local youth. The youth, the police said, were planning to stick Bhat’s posters on Friday.

A police official said clashes broke out in the night as security forces were looking for “incriminating posters”.

Local people said the security forces pulled down posters of Sameer Tiger to prevent any tribute from local youth on the first Friday following his death.

DSP’s house ‘attacked’

In a separate incident, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), Nisar Ahmed Bakshi, alleged his house was “attacked by security forces for the eighth time on Wednesday afternoon following a law and order situation fuelled a gunfight in Shopian on Wednesday”.

The officer posted nine photos of broken windows and the shattered windscreen of cars on his Facebook, which went viral in the Valley.

Mr. Bakhsi, a resident of Nai Basti in Anantnag, said windows of his house, windscreens of a few cars, a broken scooter and a bike were the result of “security forces’ action”.

“Vandalism by the security forces at K.P. Road Anantnag. Property worth lacs including windows and windowpanes of my residential house damaged. Houses, vehicles and shops smashed by rods and rocks. This is for the 8th time since 2008 that my residential house has been damaged in such a way,” reads the post.

The police have refused to comment on the issue.