A top Lashkar-e-Toiba commander, his associate, a policeman and a house-owner’s son were killed in a gunfight in Srinagar’s Fateh Kadal area on Wednesday morning. While the police alleged that the house-owner’s son was a “militant accomplice”, the family refuted the claim.
According to the police, a joint operation with Central Reserve Police Force was launched in the wee hours following tip-off about presence of militants in Fateh Kadal.
“We had a credible lead about presence of some militants in a particular house,” a police officer said, adding that during a search operation in the area, militants opened fire on the forces, leading to a gunfight.
“There was a heavy exchange of firing in which two militants and a militant accomplice son of house-owner were killed. A policeman also died in the gun-battle,” the officer said.
At least three CRPF men also sustained injuries while two houses were damaged in the gunfight.
The police identified the slain militants as Mehrajudin Bangroo, a top Lashkar-e-Toiba commander from Fateh Kadal and his associate Faid Mustaq Waza from Khanyar. The house owner’s son was identified as Rayees Ahmed Sofi while the slain policeman was identified as Kamal Kishore from Reasi district in Jammu.
Talking to reporters on the sidelines of wreath-laying ceremony of slain policeman here, the director general of police Dilbag Singh said the operation was launched on the “basis of a specific intelligence input” about presence of militants in a particular house in Fateh Kadal.
“The area was cordoned off and the house zeroed in. The hiding militants fired in which we lost a policeman Kamal Kishore. At the end of the operation, we found three bodies that were identified as Mehrajduin Bangroo, Faid Waza and another person who was with the militants as their accomplice,” the DGP said.
He said Bangroo was associated with Lashkar-e-Toiba since 2016 and Faid had joined the outfit earlier this year.
“Bangroo was involved in weapon-snatching, killings and was a major threat to peace in Srinagar. He was involved in other militancy-related activities,” the DGP said, adding that militants keep travelling to Srinagar from other areas “of and on.”
“Bangroo’s killing is a major success for the police and a big relief for people,” he said.
The third slain person was identified as Rayees Ahmad, son of Habibullah Sofi.
RAYEES’S FAMILY SPEAKS
Narrating the sequence of events that unfolded during the cordon, Shakeela, the mother of Rayees, said that at midnight, forces laid a siege and jumped over the main gate of their house and entered inside.
“I was sleeping with my daughter. They kicked us, and asked for the militants,” she said. ‘I told the forces that there was nobody except my family members in the house. When I went upstairs to wake up my husband and sons, I found my husband had fainted. My younger son evacuated my husband to a hospital while my elder son Rayees was asked by the forces to accompany them.”
After some time, Shakeela said that forces again asked Rayees to accompany them and started beating him ruthlessly.
“He was crying and asking them not to beat him,” she said. “At 6 am, we were asked to come out and shifted to another house. In the morning, we came to know that Rayees was killed. I don’t know how he was killed. I can only say that he had no militant links and was running a bakery shop.”
Shakeela broke down and fell unconscious at a marriage hall where the family had shifted and mourners were coming in large numbers.
SPONTANEOUS SHUTDOWN IN SRINAGAR AREAS
The Fateh Kadal gunfight triggered a spontaneous shutdown in several Srinagar areas, including Downtown and the city center Lal Chowk.
A witness said that soon after the news of gunfight spread, shopkeepers downed their shutters while the Srinagar administration ordered closure of educational institutions across the district “as a precautionary measure.” The University of Kashmir also suspended classes for the day.
THOUSANDS ATTEND FUNERALS
Thousands of people attended multiple funerals of Bangroo, Faid and Rayees who were laid to rest at the martyrs’ graveyard at Eidgah here.
A witness said Bangroo’s body was first taken to his ancestral house from where it was taken in a procession to the lawns of a local private school where his funeral prayers were offered. Rayees’s funeral was offered alongside Bangroo’s, the witness said.
Residents from Fateh Kadal said a militant appeared at the funeral and kissed Bangroo’s forehead.
“He was wearing a T-shirt displaying Jaish-e-Muhammad tag. He later disappeared in the crowd,” they said.
Another witness said the body of Faid was also taken in a procession from Khanyar to Jamia Masjid Nowhatta where his funeral prayers were held.
“All the three bodies were taken in a massive procession to martyrs’ graveyard at Eidgah where they were laid to rest, amid pro-freedom sloganeering,” the witness said.
He said soon after the bodies were laid to rest, massive protests and clashes broke out in Eidgah, Sekidafar and Safak Kadal areas. Clashes were going on till late evening.
Around nine militants appeared at Eidgah and offered a gun-salute there, a group of witnesses said.
Habibullah, the owner of the house, suffered a sudden cardiac arrest during search of his house. He was immediately removed to SMHS hospital where his condition is stated to be stable.
POLICE VERSION
In a statement about the Fateh Kadal gunfight, the police said: “On a specific input regarding presence of militants, a cordon and search operation was laid by the police and CRPF during which civilians were evacuated. While search operation was going on at target location, militants resorted to indiscriminate firing from inside.”
“The two militants and their active accomplice refused to come out of the house and in turn fired upon the search party. Consequently they were killed,” the statement read.
“Mehraj-ud-Din Bangroo alias Asif alias Piya of Narparistan Fateh Kadal had a long history of criminal records pertaining to militancy-related activities. He was involved in case FIR No. 146/2002 U/S 7/25 IA Act P/S M.R. Gunj, FIR No. 32/2007 U/S 307 RPC 7/27 I.A. Act P/S M.R. Gunj, FIR No 27/2016 U/S 302 RPC, 7/27 IA Act of PS Zadibal related to killing of two police personnel at Bagh-e-Ali Mardan Khan near Zadibal, FIR No 69/2016 U/S 302, 392 RPC 7/27 IA Act. of PS Batamaloo pertaining to killing of one police personnel and snatching of his weapon at Tengpora Batamaloo. He was also involved in several militant attack cases including series of grenade attacks,” the police statement read, adding: “Faid Mushtaq Waza son of Mushtaq Ahmad of Akilmir, Khanyar was also involved in several militancy-related incidents. Many cases were registered against him including FIR No. 45/2016 U/S 148, 149, 336, 332, 427 RPC, FIR No. 28/2017 U/S 147, 148, 149, 336, 152, 353 RPC at Police Station Khanyar. The complicity of Rayees Ahmad who was part of the group in providing shelter and logistics to the militants is being investigated.”