A 15-year-old boy was killed during a counterinsurgency operation in south Kashmir on Thursday that resulted into death of two local lashkar-e-Tayyeba (leT) terrorists. The encounter took place five days after security forces shot dead two Hizbul Mujahdeen terrorists in nearby Tral area and on a day when the Election Commission of India (ECI) announced schedule for bypoll in two parliamentary constituencies in the region.
Sources said the gunfight erupted at Pudgampora village in south Kashmir’s Awantipora area around 4.40 am when security forces cordoned off a residential house following specific information on presence of terrorists there.
Soon after the exchange of fire began in the area between the holed up terrorists and the security forces, a large number of villagers came out in the peripheral villages, chanting anti-India slogans, to help terrorists escape. The security, however, tightened the cordon and stopped the people at a distance while engaging the holed-up terrorists in the gunfight.
During the initial exchange of fire, leT commander Jahangir Ahmad Ganai, alias Saifullah was killed while the security forces attempted to persuade his associate Muhammad Shafi Wagay, alias Ehsan to surrender his arms. Wagay’s wife and son were reportedly brought to the encounter site. They used the public address system of the local mosque to persuade him to give up arms but he refused. In the subsequent action Wagay was also killed.
Both Ganai and Wagay are said to be senior cadre of leT outfit and were active in the area for several years. Sources said scores of local people attempted to get closer to the encounter site to disrupt the operation and help the holed up terrorists escape.
During the advancement of slogan shouting civilians, a bullet hit 15-year protester Amir Nazir Wani. He was escorted to hospital where he succumbed to his injuries. Police said he was hit by a stray bullet while the local alleged that Wani was shot dead by the security forces. Inspector General of Police (Kashmir range) Javed Gillani said Wani was a stone-pelter.
Sources said another villager Jalauddin also died while the counterinsurgency operation was going on. The hospital sources said Jalauddin had no bullet wounds on his body and it was difficult to ascertain immediately as to how he died in the raging encounter. Three residential houses have been damaged during the exchange of fire. The train service between Banihal and Baramulla that passes through the encounter area was suspended for the day to avoid any eventuality, sources said.
A police spokesman said the slain terrorists were involved in many incidents of violence, including killing of security force and police personnel and political activists besides carrying out grenade attacks on security forces, police installations in South Kashmir.
“They were also involved in threatening to general masses to refrain from forthcoming elections and motivating youth to join terrorist ranks in the general areas of Awantipora, Pulwama and Shopian. They were also involved in recent bank robberies and weapon snatching incidents in South and Central Kashmir,” the spokesman said.
Chief Minister, Mehbooba Mufti expressed deep anguish and grief over the killing of Amir Nazir. Extending her sympathies to the bereaved, she said it was highly unfortunate that youth are caught in the vicious cycle of violence in the State which has consumed so many precious lives and left behind a trail of death and destruction.
Sources said that at least five persons have been injured in the security action to ward off civilians from the encounter site. The authorities have announced restrictions around the encounter site following rising incidents of people attempting to storm the encounter sites to help holed up terrorists escape.
The encounter took place five days after security forces killed two Hizbul Mujahideen ultras in a 15-hour-long gun-battle at Hafoo Nazneenpora in Tral sub-district of the same region. A policeman who was laying explosives to blast off the terrorist hideout was also killed in the encounter.
The encounter took place on a day when the ECI announced poll schedule for the lok Sabha by-election for Anantnag and Srinagar constituencies. The election would be held in two phases on April 9 and 12. While Anantnag seat fell vacant after the resignation of Mehbooba Mufti who became the chief minister of the state following her father’s demise, the Srinagar constituency would go to polls after parliamentarian Tariq Hamid Karra tendered his resignation and quit ruling PDP to protest state action against civilians in the 2016 unrest triggered by killing of Hizb leader Burhan Wani. A close of 100 civilians were killed and hundreds of others were injured during a 5-montyh long campaign against the uprisng.