SIT constituted to investigate killing of Kashmiri Pandit in Shopian: Police

Srinagar :Authorities on Wednesday said that Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been constituted to investigate the matter of killing of Sunil Kumar and injuries to his cousin brother Pertimber Nath of Southern district of Shopian.
A top police officer said that militant identified as Adil Ahmad Wani, resident of Kutpora, Shopian is involved in killing of Sunil Kumar from Chotigam, Shopian.
He said that acting on the input, a cordon and search operation was launched at his residence in Kutpora where he lobbed grenade on security which was retaliated, however, he managed to escape taking advantage of darkness.
He said three brothers of militant Aadil Wani, have been arrested for harbouring militants and process of attaching house of Adil Wani has been initiated.
Jammu and Kashmir police said that it busted a militant hideout during search operation in Kutpora village of Shopian district.
Notably, on Tuesday, Sunil Kumar was killed while as cousin brother was injured after they attacked in their orchard in Chotigam Shopian.
Meanwhile Police in a statement said that on 16th August, 2022 at about 11:00 A.M two militants shot and killed Sunil Kumar Bhat S/O Sri Ji Bhat and injured his cousin Pertimber Nath S/O Arjun Nath Bhat at his orchard in Chotigam, Shopian.
“Consequent upon above terrorist act, case FIR No. 153/2022 U/S302, IPC, 7/27, IA Act and 16, 20 ULA(P) Act was registered in P/S Shopian and investigation process was set into motion and during initial investigation, involvement of an active militant Adil Ahmad Wani S/O Mohd Khalil Wani R/O Kutpora surfaced,” the statement said.
It said that an input was received by Police and SFs regarding presence of accused Adil Wani at his ancestral house at Kutpora. On this information police, 34 RR and 178 Bn CRPF launched a CASO in the area at wee hours on 17th August.
“During search, militant lobbed grenade on the search party which was retaliated by search party. However, militant escaped taking benefit of darkness,” it said.
Later on, the security forces found a hideout in the house at rooftop where arms and ammunition (one AK rifle along with a magazine and one pistol was found in the hideout), it states while adding that consequent, upon this militant act, a separate FIR No. 154/2022 U/S 307 IPC, 7/27 IA Act 16,18,19,20 ULA (P) Act was registered on 17th August, 2022.
“Three people were arrested in above case FIR for harbouring militants namely Arif Ahmad Wani, Shabir Ahmad Wani, Touseef Ahmad Wani sons of Mohd Khalil Wani R/O Kutpora, Shopian and process for attachment of property as proceed of militancy has been initiated U/s 25 of UAPA, Act 1967,” it said.
“Further investigation of above cases is under process and SIT has been constituted,” the statement said