Research scholar among two Hizbul militants killed in J&K
GUNFIGHT Was pursuing PhD at Jamia Millia Islamia University, joined militancy after Burhan Wani’s killing in 2016
SRINAGAR : Two Hizbul Mujahideen militants, including a top commander, were killed in an encounter with security forces in Srinagar’s Nowgam area on Wednesday, police said.
Acting on a tip-off about the presence of militants in Suthu Kothair locality of Nowgam, security forces launched a cordon and search operation on Tuesday night.
Officials said Special Operation Group of Jammu and Kashmir Police, 55 Rashtriya Rifles and the CRPF laid a cordon around the house.
As the army and police teams went close to the house, an encounter broke out which ended around 8am with a big explosion that left both the militants inside the house dead.
The militants were identified by officials as Sabzar Ahmad Sofi and Ashiq Gojri, both residents of South Kashmir’s Anantnag district, said deputy inspector general of police, VK Birdi.
“We recovered incriminating materials, including arms and ammunition, from the site of encounter,’’ the police spokesman said.
One of the militants killed in the encounter, Sabzar Ahmad Sofi, was pursuing PhD at Jamia Millia Islamia University, New Delhi. He had joined militancy after Burhan Wani’s killing in 2016. Sofi, has an MPhil and MSc. However, Jamia Millia Islamia in a press statement refuted that Sofi was registered as a student with the university.
He is the second scholarturned-militant who has been killed in the Valley in recent times. On October 11, PhD scholar Manan Wani was gunned down at Handwara along with one of his associate.
CLASHES IN SOUTH KASHMIR
Meanwhile, shutdown continued in south Kashmir and restrictions were imposed in Kulgam district following the call from Joint Resistance Leadership (JRL) that had asked people to march towards Kulgam on Wednesday.
JRL have again called for a shutdown on Thursday.
Clashes erupted in Nowgam, Sangam and Sirhama areas of south Kashmir. Police used tear gas shells and pellets to disperse protesters. Four persons were injured in the clashes. Authorities snapped mobile internet services in the city and shut educational institutions as a precautionary measure.