Four militants killed in Kashmir

Owner of the house where the extremists were hiding died in the gunbattle

In a first major offensive against militants ever since Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) came under governor’s rule, four militants, including head of Islamic State Jammu and Kashmir (ISJK), were killed in an encounter yesterday.

ISJK is a local terror group affiliated to global terror outfit Daesh. J&K Director General of Police (DGP) SP Vaid confirmed the casualties.

“On Friday morning, four militants holed up in a house opened fire at security forces during a cordon and search operation at Nowshera village in Anantnag. As encounter progressed, local youth started pelting stones at security personnel in an attempt to let the militants escape. All four militants were killed,” Vaid tweeted.

The four militants killed have been identified as ISJK chief Dawood Salafi alias Burhan from Srinagar, Majeed Manzoor from Talangam village in Pulwama district, Adil Hassan Mir and Ashraf Itoo, both from Srigufwara in Anantnag.

Mohammad Yusuf Rathar, owner of the house where the militants were hiding, died in the gunbattle. His wife was also critically injured and admitted to Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences.

Fifteen civilians also suffered injuries in the clashes.

In view of the encounter, internet services were suspended in most parts of the Kashmir Valley.

Operations resume

The cordon and search operations, which had been suspended by the central government for Ramadan, resumed after Eid.

Earlier this year, DGP Vaid had admitted the presence of Daesh in Kashmir.

“The presence of ISIS [Daesh] in Kashmir is not substantial, but it is indeed a worrying sign, because ISIS foothold in Kashmir will have a different meaning,” he had told media in February.

Last week, union Home Minister Rajnath Singh had said that the ceasefire announced by the government during Ramadan would not be extended.