Security forces shot dead two militants of Hizbul Mujahideen in an encounter in a village in Shopian district of south Kashmir on a day when normal life remained affected in several parts of the Valley due to restrictions imposed by the authorities to thwart protests.
A Defence spokesman said police and Army conducted a surgical operation in Manzimpora Village in mountainous Shopian district of south Kashmir on Thursday evening. The security forces had received tip-off on the presence of militants in the morning.
“In the operation, continuing till last reports came in from the area, two heavily armed terrorists of Hizbul Mujahideen outfit were eliminated who have been identified as Adil Khandey and Irshad Ahmed Sheikh, both local residents,” the spokesman said. Meanwhile, normal life was affected in Capital Srinagar in view of restrictions on eight day of Muharram, the first month of Islamic Calendar to commemorate the martyrdom of Prophet Muhammad’s grandson Imam Hussain.
The south Kashmir region is seething in anger since October 18 when 22-year-old Zahid Rasool Bhat succumbed to burn injuries in a hospital in New Delhi. Bhat had been burnt alive by miscreants in Shivnagar area of Udhampur on October 9 when he along-with two other colleagues was on way to Srinagar in a coal-laden truck. Two truckers had received serious burn injuries in the petrol bomb attack.
The authorities have decided to continue with the restrictions in Anantnag district in view of Friday protest call by separatists. The day also coincided with the commemoration of the killing of 65 people allegedly in the Army firing on October 22nd in 1993 in Bijbehara which is described by the people as “Black Friday”. Ummat-e-Islami chief and chief priest of south Kashmir Qazi Yasir was put under preventive custody. Sources said a person identified as Javed Sofi was hit by a stone during clashes between protesters and police in Charsoo, Awantipora. He was immediately shifted to Srinagar for treatment. Another wounded person Naseer Ahmad Dar, who was hit by tear smoke shell during protests on Wednesday is reportedly out of danger and has been shifted out of Intensive Care Unit of hospital.
In capital Srinagar, the authorities disallowed Muharram processions by imposing restrictions in areas under Maisuma and Shaheed Gunj police stations besides Dalgate area in Srinagar city to maintain law and order. Police used tear gas shells to quell Shiite mourners who defied restrictions.
The authorities have taken most of the separatist leaders in preventive custody to thwart their attempt to hold joint protests on Friday. Hurriyat Conference spokesman Ayaz Akbar said that Syed Ali Geelani was put under house detention after briefly being taken into preventive custody. Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, who has called for joint protests, was also put under house detention while JKlF chief Yasin Malik has been lodged at Kothi Bagh Police Station.