5 Hizb men slain, 5 civilians die
aide of Hizb’s popular commander Burhan Wani whose death in July 2016 had sparked widespread disturbances in the Kashmir Valley and parts of the Jammu region.
Dr Bhat, a contractual assistant professor in Kashmir University, had gone missing from his Srinagar accommodation a few days ago raising suspicion that he had joined militants.
In his last call from the encounter site to his father Abdur Rahim Bhat, Dr Bhat had told him that he was sorry if he had hurt his parents. A resident of Chundhama village in central district of Ganderbal, the slain teacher’s father told the police that he received the call from his son’s mobile phone early Sunday to bid farewell. “He told me ‘ I am sorry if I have hurt you’,” said the senior Bhat.
On learning that Dr Bhat was among the trapped militants at the encounter site, police had called his family to persuade him to surrender, but the effort failed. Inspector general of police ( Kashmir range) S. P. Pani said, “We made repeated appeals to them through public address system to surrender. We even brought their families to the encounter site to persuade them but to no avail.” Commenting on the killing of university faculty member- turnedmilitant, former chief minister and working president of the Opposition National Conference ( NC), Omar Abdullah, tweeted, “Sadly this is also an answer to those who claim jobs & development are the solutions to the violence & alienation in Kashmir. This is another tragic development in a steady stream of tragedies in Kashmir.”
Chief minister Mehbooba Mufti expressed deep anguish over the death of five civilians in clashes in Shopian district and its neighbourhood and called for resolving political issues through “political intervention”. Mr Pani said the incriminating materials, including arms and ammunition, have been seized from the encounter site in Shopian.
Soon after the killing of the five militants, clashes broke out between groups of stone- pelting youths and the security forces near the encounter site, leading to injuries to several protesters, the official said. “While handling a highly volatile situation, unfortunately, civilians were injured in cross firing and among them five civilians succumbed to their injuries,” the police said in a statement.
Reports said that the security forces fired live ammunition to quell stone- pelting mobs at various places in Shopian and neighbouring Kulgam and Pulwama districts resulting in fatal injuries to, at least, five people.
A police statement said, “We once again reiterate that encounter sites are prohibitory zones and highly susceptible to cross firing so must be avoided by civilians.” One of the critically injured persons identified as 21- year- old Asif Ahmad Mir died in a Srinagar hospital. He had received a bullet wound in his head, hospital sources said. Four other people have received pellet injuries in legs, they said.
Another protester identified as Zubair Ahmad, a resident of Rajpora area of Pulwama, was killed in security forces firing at Nagbal ( Shopian). Reports said that the Army opened fire on stone- pelters at Nagbal when a small convoy carrying the bodies of the slain militants was moving towards Zainapora police station of Shopian. Civilian Nasir Ahmad Kumhar, who was injured in clashes in Shopian village, died in Srinagar’s SMHS Hospital, sources said. ‘ Two other civilians killed in security forces’ actions have been identified as Sajad Ahmed Rather, a resident of Verinag in Anantnag district, and Adil Ahmed, a resident of Mahigund Ashmuji village of Kulgam. Reports said that while Rather was killed in security forces firing in Chitragam village of Shopian, Adil Ahmed was killed at Behi Bagh of Kulgam.
All schools, colleges and other educational institutions in the Kashmir Valley will remain shut on Monday, said Divisional Commissioner Baseer Ahmed Khan.
The authorities have also decided to impose restrictions on movement of people under Section 144 CrPc fully or partially in seven police station areas of Rainawari, Khanyar, Nowhatta, Safakadal, Maharaj Gunj, Maisuma and Kralkhud.