Hizb militant killed in Shopian encounter

A Hizb militant was killed in a gunfight with security forces in this south Kashmir district on Friday morning.

A police official identified the slain militant as SameerAhmad Seh son of Abdul Aziz Seh of Sugan Shopian. “Sameer had joined Al Badarmilitant outfit in May 2018. However, he had recently switched over to HizbulMujahideen,” the official added.

   

He said the gunfight began at around half past six in themorning after the militants fired at a search party in Narwani village, some 12kms from Shopian town.  “The searchparty, comprising army, Central Reserve Police Force and Police, had laid asiege around the apple orchards surrounding the village after receivingdefinite information about the presence of militants in the area. While thesearches were going on, militants hiding in a thick orchard fired over thesecurity forces. The security forces returned the fire, leading to a gunfightwhich ended with the killing of a militant,” he added.

While the gunfight was underway, local youths, according toanother police official, poured into the streets and pelted security forceswith stones.  The security forces firedtear smoke shells and shot gun pellets to disperse the protesters. A youth wasinjured the clashes, said a witness.  

A health official at Zainpora hospital identified theinjured youth  as Shakeel Ahmad and saidthat he was sent to SMHS Srinagar for the specialized treatment.

As the body of the slain militant was handed over to hisfamily, people from the village and adjoining areas arrived there toparticipate in his funeral prayers.  

Authorities blocked the cellular Internet services in theShopian district and neighbouring Pulwama district.

Meanwhile, a police spokesman in a statement said, “Theslain militant was affiliated with proscribed militant outfit Al-Badar and hadrecently joined proscribed HM. He was wanted by law for his complicity in aseries of militancy related incidents including attack on securityestablishments and civilian atrocities.”

“According to the police records, Sameer had was part ofgroups involved in planning & executing militant attacks in the area. Asper the records available with police, several cases were registered againsthim including Case FIR No.62/2018  of P/SZainapora pertaining to killing of a civilian at Zainapora Shopian, Case FIRNo. 65/2018 of P/S Zainapora pertaining to killing of 4 policemen at Guard Postin Zainapora, Case FIR No. 52/2018 of P/S Zainapora pertaining to an explosionat Heff Shirmal Shopian, Case FIR No. 283/2018 of P/S Shopian pertaining toabduction of a civilian, Case FIR No. 08/2019 of P/S Zainapora pertaining tokilling of a civilian at Draggad Shopian and Case FIR No. 12/2019 of P/SZainapora pertaining to recovery of arms and ammunition from ZainaporaShopian,” the spokesman said, adding that “Incriminating material including arms and ammunition were recoveredfrom the site of encounter. All these materials have been taken into caserecords for further investigation and to probe their complicity in othercases.”

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