Srinagar: Police on Wednesday said that three local militants, including a commander of The Resistance Front (TRF) militant outfit, were killed in a brief shootout at Rambagh area of Srinagar.
Police identified the TRF commander as Mehran Yaseen Shalla , a resident of Jamalta Srinagar. The other two were identified by police as Manzoor Ahmad Mir, resident of Babhar Pulwama and Arafat Ahmad Sheikh, resident of Nikloora Pulwama.
“One of the three terrorists killed in the encounter in Srinagar’s Rambagh has been identified as Mehran, a top TRF commander who was involved in killing of two teachers & other civilians in the city,” said Inspector General of Police, Kashmir zone, Vijay Kumar.
“Police neutralised 3 terrorists in Srinagar. Identification & affiliation of the killed terrorists is being ascertained. Further details shall follow. @JmuKmrPolice,” Kashmir Zone Police said in a tweet soon after the encounter broke out in Rambagh.
This shootout took place less than 10 days after the controversial Hyderpora gunfight in which four people including two businessmen were killed.
Reports said soon after the incident took place, locals gathered near the spot.
In another video, that was widely shared on social media, women can be seen wailing near the encounter spot.
The civilians were also seen cleaning blood stains on the road.
The incident created panic in the area and people left for safer places. The traffic at Rambagh road was disrupted for some time but later it was restored.
From old Srinagar, reports said groups of people gathered in Jamalta area after news of Mehran killing broke. They said that heavy deployment was made to thwart any untoward incident in the backdrop of killing.
POLICE VERSION :
“Acting swiftly on our own specific input regarding movement of terrorists in Rambagh area of Srinagar, a small team from Srinagar Police signalled a suspected Santro vehicle to stop. However, the terrorists started firing indiscriminately on the police party from inside the car while trying to flee from the spot under the cover of firing,” police said. “The fire was however effectively retaliated leading to gunfight.”
“In the ensuing gunfight, three terrorists got killed and identified as terrorist commander of proscribed terror outfit LeT (TRF) Mehran Yaseen Shalla resident of Jamalatta Srinagar, Manzoor Ahmad Mir resident of Babhar Pulwama and Arafat Ahmad Sheikh resident of Nikloora Pulwama,” police said
“As per police records, the killed terrorists were linked with proscribed terror outfit LeT (TRF) and part of group involved in several terror crime cases including attacks on security forces and civilian atrocities,” police said.
“Killed terrorist Mehran Yaseen had a long history of terror crimes and was wanted by law for his involvement in several terror crime cases including grenade attack at Barbar Shah Srinagar on 26/06/2021 in which one civilian namely Mudasir Ahmad Bhat resident of Hanjigund Beerwah got killed and three other civilians got critically injured, Killing of Meeran Ali Sheikh at Bulbul Lanker Nawa Kadal on 27/07/2021, Killing of PSI Arshad Ahmad at Khanyar on 12/09/2021, Killing of School Principal Supinder Kour and teacher Deepak Chand of Government Higher Secondary School, Khankah Noorbagh Sangam on 07/10/2021,” police said.
“Prior to joining in terror ranks, several cases regarding his involvement in stone pelting incidents are also registered against him. Moreover, the other killed terrorist Arafat Ahmad was also involved in several terror crime cases including killing of a non-local labour at Litter area of Pulwama on 16/10/2021.”
“Incriminating materials including arms & ammunition has been recovered from their possession,” police said. “Police has registered a case in this regard and investigation is in progress. IGP Kashmir appreciated role of srinagar police conducting successful operation without any collateral damage.”