A lashkar-e-Islam (leI) militant involved in targeting civilians and attempting to ban cellular services in north Kashmir was shot dead by security forces on Wednesday after a day-long gun battle that also claimed life of a Rashtriya Rifles soldier.
The encounter triggered off at ladoora village in the periphery of Sopore early in the morning when security forces cordoned off a house following specific information about the presence of militants there.
A spokesman of police said that 32 RR and counterinsurgency police belonging to Sopore Station launched a cordon and search operation that led to exchange of fire after a militant hiding in one of the houses opened fire.
The firing continued for several hours and culminated into death of a local leI militant Riyaz Ahmad Mir, a resident of Brath Kalan village. Two Army jawans were injured in the encounter and one of them succumbed to his injuries in hospital.
Police said the slain militant was affiliated with leI, a breakaway group of Hizbul Mujahideen. The leI outfit created panic in north Kashmir shortly after it was floated by a senior Hizb commander Qayoom Najar in June this year. Najar and his comrade Imtiyaz Kandoo are most-wanted militants in north Kashmir and police have announced a bounty of `1 million each on their heads. Mir is said to have been close associate of Najar and Kandoo.
Police said he was involved in a number of killings in Sopore and adjoining areas and played crucial role in threatening and terrorising the land lords of mobile towers and mobile franchise owners. Mir alias Gosha had joined HM outfit last year. A number of cases were registered against him for his involvement in target killings. Police said besides killing sarpanchs, civilians and traders assodiated with mobile telephony, he was also involved in killing of a separatist Hurriyat Conference activist Khursheed Ahmad Bhat at Bomai village on June 9 this year.
The security forces have recovered one AK 47 rifle with two magazines from the encounter site.
The slain soldier has been identified as Rifleman Sisar Malla of 32 RR. His colleague has been hospitalised for treatment.
Meanwhile, police have booked at least six youngsters for uploading pictures and videos of active militants in south Kashmir’s Awantipora area. They have been booked under the provisions of Unlawful Activities (prevention) Act.
Video messages of 21-year tech-savvy Hizbul Mujahideen militant Burhan Muzaffar Wani have gone viral in Kashmir Valley after he uploaded them on social networking sites. Wani belongs to Tral pocket of south Kashmir where a sizeable number of militants is active and fresh recruitments have taken place recently.
Wani uploaded a 5-minute video last week in which he appeals to people to cooperate with militants for establishing caliphate in Jammu and Kashmir. Earlier, he had circulated pictures and video clips along with his 10 comrades, all donning army fatigues.
“After filing a case FIR No 95/2015 U/S17, 18, 18A unlawful activities act has been registered in police station Awantipora and manhunt has been launched to nab these so-called online Jehadi activists who have been uploading videos and photos with the intention to lure youngsters to join militant ranks”, a police official said.
The police were under flak for their failure to take action against proliferation of footage eulogising militants. The police department has approached the court for permission to block websites and facebook pages highlighting militant activities. The police have identified various sites who promote secession through pictures and videos.