The residents of Chattabal were transported back to the nineties when on Saturday forces carried out a cordon and search operation in the densely settled locality which culminated in the killing of three militants who were hiding at an under-construction house.
One of them was identified as Fayaz Ahmed Hamaal of Khankah-e-Moula. He had joined militancy in April 2017.
Second militant killed is believed to be ShowkatAhamdTak of Panzgam, Awantipora. Showkat was active since last around eight years. He worked under various Lashkar commanders like Abu Rehman, Abu Qasim and Abu Dujana.
The militants, police said, belonged to Lashkar-i-Toiba.
The encounter lasted for nine hours. The militants had taken refuge in a safe house. Four security personnel including a CRPF assistant commandant and a deputy superintendent of police were injured.
This is the second encounter in the city in four months. In February, two Lashkar-e-Toiba militants, both foreigners, were killed in a gunfight at the nearby Karan Nagar.
Talking to Greater Kashmir, Inspector General of Police Kashmir range, Swayam Prakash Pani said the operation was carried out smoothly. “There was no collateral damage in the gunfight,” he said. “All the three militants are believed to be from the Lashkar-e-Toiba given the kind of material recovered from their possession”.
He said the group looked to be planning a “big strike” on the eve of Darbar Move. “We successfully foiled their plans,” he said.
Inspector General of CRPF for Srinagar sector Ravi Deep Sahi, who monitored the encounter said the congested nature of the area posed difficulty for them. “The house where militants were hiding was concrete. But we ensured that there is no collateral damage,” Sahi said.
He said first contact with the militants was established at 4:15 am in which some forces’ personnel sustained injuries. “The militants again fired at us at around 6:15 am. And by 12:30 the operation was over,” he said.
The news of the encounter led to a spontaneous shutdown in parts of Srinagar, especially in areas in and around the encounter site. Youth took to streets at Chattabal, Kakasarai, Safakadal, ZampaKadal, Noorbagh, Qamarwari, Eidgah and clashed with police.
Markets in the city centreLalChowk and other adjoining areas also closed. Knots of youth engaged CRPF men at the GhantaGhar for some time by hurling bricks and stones.
The police had rolled across concertina wire to seal routes leading to Chattabal.
A witness said that groups of protesting youth tried to get closer to encounter site to help militants escape. “Dozens of youth hurled bricks, stones and rocks at the police and paramilitary forces in a bid to disrupt the operations. There, was, however, a strong multi-layer cover in place,” the witness said. “Every time, youth pushed nearer the house where militants were hiding, forces fired dozens of tear gas shells to push them back.”
Since the army doesn’t operate in Srinagar city, police and Quick Reaction Teams (QRTs) used Under-Barrel Grenade Launchers (UBGLS) and rockets to kill the militants. A CRPF man, who was part of the operation, revealed that at least 100 UBGLS, over 20 rockets were used to ensure the encounter ended early.
In recent past, Srinagar has witnessed a surge in youth joining militants ranks. Ten youth have joined militancy in past two years, six of whom have been killed. Junaid Ashraf, son of senior Hurriyat leader Muhammad Ashraf Sehrai, is the latest to take up arms.
PANIC IN CITY
The roar of the gunfire created panic in the area forcing people to flee in all directions. The chaos spilled out onto the road as hundreds of vehicles got caught in traffic snarls. The news of the encounter spread in the city like wildfire. Some parents were seen returning home with their children from the bus stops.
A woman at Karan Nagar said she received a call from school that the school bus will not ply today due to the closure of routes in and around the encounter site at Chattabal. Traffic jam was also witnessed at several other points in the city.
THOUSANDS JOIN FUNERAL
Thousands of people participated in the funeral prayers of slain Lashkar-e-Toiba militant Fayaz Ahmed Hamaal of Khankha-e-Moula, FatehKadal in downtown Srinagar on Saturday evening.
Fayaz was one among the three slain militants killed in an encounter at Chattabal area of downtown Srinagar. A witness said that Fayaz’s body was handed over to his parents at FatehKadal, where thousands of people were already waiting to offer funeral prayers of slain Fayaz and to have his last glimpse.
“At 6:15, the body of Fayaz reached his home,” said a relation of slain. “And within minutes, thousands of people including women, children and youth assembled in the area.” Fayaz’s body was taken in a large procession with people chanting pro-freedom and pro-Islam slogans amid waving of Pakistani flags to Jamia Masjid Nowhatta, Srinagar, where thousands offered his funeral prayers. He was later taken in the form of another major procession to martyr’s graveyard where he was laid to rest amid moist eyes.
MILITANTS OFFER GUN SALUTE
Before his burial, a witness, who was part of the gathering at martyr’s Eidgah, said four militants surfaced along with their weapons and one of them offered a gun salute to slain Fayaz. “Other three while addressing the gathering asked people to remain steadfast. They also pledged revenge for the killing of three militants at Chattabal,” the witness said.
RESTRICTIONS IN SRINAGAR AREAS
To prevent law and order problem, authorities have decided to impose restrictions in various areas of the summer capital on Sunday.
Police sources said restrictions will be imposes in areas coming under jurisdiction of police stations MaharajGunj, SafaKadal, Nowhatta, Khanyar, Rainawari and Kralkhud.