Hizbul Mujahideen outfit received a major jolt in south Kashmir as security forces shot dead its top commander Sabzar Ahmad Bhat who was second-in-command of slain Hizb terrorist Burhan Wani, in a 16-hour-long gun battle at Saimoh Village in Tral sub-division of south Kashmir. Bhat’s recently recruited aide Faizan Ahmad was also killed in the gunfight while a civilian protester, attempting to break into the cordoned area was shot dead by security forces.
Soon after the news broke, a spontaneous shutdown was observed across the Valley and incidents of stone-pelting and clashes erupted at dozens of places. The separatists called for a two-day shutdown against the killings starting Sunday even as the authorities snapped prepaid telephone and internet services in various parts of the Valley and imposed curfew in several parts of Srinagar and south Kashmir on Sunday.
The terrorists were engaged in a fierce gunbattle on Friday evening when Rashtriya Rifles troops cordoned off Saimoh village in Tral, about 40 kilometers from Srinagar following information that terrorists were hiding in the village. Soon after the cordon was laid, a fierce gunbattle erupted in the area.
On Saturday, afternoon, bodies of two terrorists, Sabzar Ahmad Bhat and Faizan Bhat were recovered from the debris of two houses where they had taken positions.
Sabzar,30, one of the top-ranking Hizb commanders in Kashmir was active for two years and was known for his macho look and daring stunts. Flaunting assault rifles he was seen in several pictures with slain Hizb terrorist Burhan Wani who was killed by security forces in July 2016 that triggered massive public uprising in Kashmir.
Known locally as Soba Don, Sabzar was second-in-command during Burhan’s time but he refused to lead the outfit after Wani’s death. Zakir Moosa was appointed Hizb’s commander later but he has recently developed differences with the outfit’s command and announced to part ways.
Eyewitnesses said that three terrorists escaped from the encounter site when a swell of people stormed the area. The security forces tactfully withdrew the area, sources said.
Soon after Sabzar’s death, spontaneous protests broke out across Kashmir Valley. Eyewitnesses said a large group of young protesters attempted to storm the encounter site to help terrorists escape. During the retaliatory action, one youngster Aquib Rashid lone, 25, was killed. He was reportedly shot in his head.
Sabzar’s associate Faizan Bhat, was 16-year-old, and had joined terrorist ranks in March 2017 after snatching an assault rifle from a CRPF personnel.
While Faizan was buried in Tral town near Burhan Wani’s grave, Sabzar would be buried at his Rathsuna village on Sunday.
While traffic movement came to a grinding halt and shopkeepers downed shutters, students came out on streets in many parts of Valley including capital Srinagar. A police spokesman said that clashes and stone-pelting incidents took place at around two dozen places. Several youngsters injured in clashes were shifted to Srinagar hospitals.
Three prominent separatist leaders Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Yasin Malik, who spearheaded 2016 uprising, called for two-day shutdown across Kashmir starting Sunday against what they termed as “use of brute force” on civilian protesters in Tral. In a joint statement, the separatists have also called for a march to Tral area on May 30 to pay “tributes” to Sabzar, his associate and 6 other terrorists killed on loC on Saturday.
Apprehending trouble, the authorities in Srinagar have decided to impose curfew in areas falling under the jurisdiction of four police stations on Sunday, whereas the district authorities in Pulwama have also decided to impose curfew in Sunday.