Hizb commander among two militants killed in Anantnag
SRINAGAR, AUGUST 29 (PTK): A top Hizbul Mujahideen commander and his associate were killed on Wednesday in a gunfight with the security forces in Anantnag district, police said.
The two were killed in the Khanabal area gun battle. Police identified the top Hizbul commander as Altaf Ahmad Dar alias Altaf Kachroo and his associate as Umar Rashid.
The gunfight started earlier in the day after the security forces surrounded Binpora village following information about the presence of the militants there.
“As the joint forces of the Rashtriya Rifles (RR) special operations group (SOG) of state police and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) approached the house the holed up militants fired upon them triggering the encounter ” a police officer had said.
“Firing exchanges have now stopped. The bodies of the slain militants and their weapons have been recovered ” the officer said.
Kachroo belonging to Redwani village of Kulgam district carried a reward of Rs 15 lakh on his head. His killing is being seen as a major success in the anti-militancy operations in the south Kashmir area.
Meanwhile curfew has been announced in Anantnag town to maintain law and order. Clashes between stone pelting youth and the security forces are now going on in the area, reports said.
Reports said that scores of youth hit the streets and pelted the forces with stones in Qaimoh soon after the news of the killing of two Hizb militants spread in the area.
Locals said that the forces responded by fired tear gas and pellets, resulting in injuries to over 75 protesters.
An official at Qaimoh hospital said they received around 73 youth injured among them five have pellet injuries in their eyes.
Authorities suspended train services between Baramulla and Banihal towns immediately after the gunfight started. Mobile Internet services have also been suspended as a precautionary measure in Anantnag and Kulgam districts.
Meanwhile Police issued the statement about the Ananatnag gunfight saying police and government forces jointly launched search operation today early morning at Muniward area of Khanabal in district Islamabad.
A police spokesperson in a statement said that during the searches, militants fired on the search party, which was retaliated leading to an encounter.
“In the ensuing encounter two militants were killed. The killed terrorists were identified as Altaf Ahmad Dar @Kachroo @ Moin of Hawoora Mishipora and Umar Rashid Wani of Khudwani Kulgam,” said police spokesperson in a statement.
“Altaf Ahmed Dar @ Kachroo @ Moin son of Late Ghulam Mohammad Dar resident of Hawoora, Mishipora District Kulgam was currently operating as a one of the most important militant Commander of proscribed militant outfit HM. He had a long history of criminal records since 2007,” he said.
“Considered as a long time surviving militant in the area, he was involved in series of militant crimes in the area. He was involved in several attacks on the security forces and killings of civilians and policemen in the area,” a police spokesperson said.
The spokesman in a statement said: “Several cases were registered against him in different police stations across the valley for his militant activities. Some of the prominent cases include rifle snatching from policemen at Yaripora BSNL Tower. FIR No 208/7 under section 307, RPC, 7/27, Arms Act; FIR No 226/2010 under section 20 ULA (P) Act; FIR No 239/2010 under section 307,RPC 7/27 Arms Act; FIR No 15/2010 under section 307, 392 RPC 7/25 Arms Act in PS Yaripora; FIR No 21/2011 under section 7/25 Arms Act P/S Zadibal Srinagar; FIR No 174/15 under section 307, 392 RPC , 7/25 Arms Act PS Kulgam etc.”
“Pertinently during the 2016 unrest he along with Yasin Itoo @Gaznavi played a major role in instigating people,” he added.
“Umar Rashid Wani son of Abdul Rashid Wani resident of Khudwani Kulgam became active since last year. He was involved in many civilian atrocities and attacks on security establishments. He was also involved in killing o policemen at Islamabad. Further, in Srinagar city Umar had carried an attack on CRPF and also escaped from the recent Batmaloo encounter site,” said police spokesperson.
The spokesman said that several cases were registered against him including 145/17 under section 302, 7/27 Arms Act of Police Station Islamabad in which two JKP cops were martyred and 173/18 under section 302, 307, 34 RPC, 7/27 Arms Act, 15, 16, 18, 19, 20 ULA of Police Station Batamaloo. Though this group was a part of HM module they had worked in close coordination with other proscribed militant outfits.
“Some arms and ammunition were also recovered from the site of the encounter,” he said. A police spokesperson said that police has registered a case in this regard and the investigation has been initiated in the instant matter. (PTK)
