Burhan Wani’s aide among 8 militants killed in Kashmir
One civilian killed and several others hurt in ensuing protests
Sabzar Bhat, believed to be the successor to Hizbul commander Burhan Wani whose death last year plunged Kashmir into one of its worst episodes of violence in recent years, was among 8 militants killed in two encounters in the Valley on Saturday.
Bhat was gunned down in south Kashmir’s Tral where forces raided a hideout on Friday. The encounter continued into Saturday, with Bhat and another accomplice confirmed dead.
The news of his death triggered violent protests at least in Pulwama, Shopian, Anantnag, Srinagar, Sopore and Kupwara, and several parts of the Valley were shut down.
A civilian was killed and several others were injured in the protests. Incidents of stone pelting and injuries from pellet guns were also reported, though not confirmed.
Officials also suspended mobile internet services in the Valley. The six other militant deaths were along the Line of Control, the de-facto border with Pakistan.
A statement from the army’s Northern Command said the encounters were a result of “relentless operations” by security forces to “defeat desperate attempts by Pak and Pak-sponsored agents to spread terror in the state in the run up to the holy month of Ramzan”. The army had earlier said it had engaged infiltrators as they tried to enter Indian territory in the Rampur sector, killing six of them.
Saturday’s deaths take the number of militant casualties in Kashmir over the past 24 hours to 10. Forces had on Friday killed two members of the Pakistan Border Action team along the LoC. Hours later, a tip led them to a suspected hideout in Tral on Friday evening where Bhat is reported to have been hiding.
Bhat’s death was confirmed by SP Vaid, the director-general of Kashmir police.
Sabzar Bhat was seen by many as a successor to Wani, a young militant commander whose death triggered anger among many Kashmiris.
At least 100 civilians have been killed in protests and clashes with security forces since Wani died in July last year.
Wani belonged to the Hizbul Mujahideen, an outfit that leads the militancy in Kashmir separatism and is considered a terrorist outfit by India, the United States and the European Union. He joined the outfit when he was 15 and went on to become the poster boy of Kashmir militancy.
After his death, the Hizb named Mehmood Gaznavi as the new commander in Kashmir.
While there was no information available on Ghaznavi, speculations were rife that his real name was Sabzar Ahmed Bhat.
Other reports said Ghaznavi could be Zakir Musa.
Musa recently had a falling out with the Hizbul Mujahideen, developments that cemented the notion that it had been Sabzar Bhat who led the outfit in the Valley.A native of Rathsuna in southern Kashmir, Bhat was said to be a close friend of Wani’s.
He and another militant, Shakir Ahmed Bhat, joined the Hizbul Mujahideen in April 2015 after Wani’s brother Khalid was killed by forces in Tral’s Kamla forests. Wani is said to have discouraged the two, since Shakir was just 16 years old.
In December 2015, police announced a cash reward on a group of militants that included Sabzar.
SABZAR BHAT WAS SEEN BY MANY AS A SUCCESSOR TO WANI, A YOUNG MILITANT COMMANDER WHOSE DEATH TRIGGERED ANGER AMONG MANY KASHMIRIS.