Srinagar: Three Kashmiri militants were killed on Wednesday in an overnight encounter with Government Forces in Central Kashmir’s Budgam district.
After a tip off about the presence of militants Army, CRPF and SOG of Jammu Kashmir Police cordoned off Redbugh village of Budgam on Tuesday night, resulting in the fierce gunfight between the trapped militants and the government forces.
A police official said that the operation was halted for the night but the government armed forces maintained the cordon of the area to stop the militants from escaping.
The militants three in number were present in the house of a villager Muhammad Ramzan Mir.
Reports said that the gun fight resumed on Wednesday morning and during the fierce gun fight three militants were killed. The house according to eyewitnesses was blasted by the government forces. Shortly after the house was blasted, militants came in open and tried to break the cordon.
During their attempt to escape from the spot, all the three militants were shot dead. The slain militants were identified as Javid Ahmed Sheikh, a resident of Saadpora Churpora Narbal, Sajad Ahmad Gilkar of Nowhatta Srinagar and Aaquib Gul of Goripora Hyderpora – belonged to Hizb-ul-Mujahideen militant outfit.
Authorities shortly after the gunfight, suspended internet facility in Central Kashmir while restrictions were imposed
in old city Srinagar as one of the slain militants belonged to Nowhatta area of Srinagar city. Several shops in city centre Lal Chowk remained shut due to killing of militants and restrictions in old Srinagar city.
Hizb-ul-Mujahideen militant Sajad Ahmad Gilkar, who belonged to Pandan locality in Nowhatta area, was among the three militants who died in the encounter. According to the police, restrictions had been imposed as a preventive measure in Rainawari, Khanyar, Nowhatta, M.R. Gunj and Safa Kadal areas.
Official sources said that curfew or curfew-like restrictions will not only continue in Srinagar areas but some other parts of the summer capital and rest of the Valley may also be brought under similar curbs from midnight in view of the Kashmir martyrs day.
Reports said that clashes erupted after police and paramilitary troopers fired pellets and lobbed teargas shells to prevent mourners from marching towards the Jamia Masjid.
Thousands of people participated in the last rites of Sajad Ahmed whose funeral prayers were offered at Sports Stadium. Amid pro-freedom slogans, thousands of people amid restrictions hit to roads after the body of the slain militant reached Nowhatta Srinagar. The mourners clashed with government forces leading to the injuries of several persons. He was laid to rest at Malkha Srinagar.
Greater Kashmir lens man Aman Farooq suffered injuries while covering these clashes. Farooq said that he was covering the funeral of Sajad Ahmad Gilkar in Pandan Nowhatta area when pellets were fired at the mourners.
“I have been hit by pellets in the head and arms,” he said, adding that several persons were injured during the clashes.
Massive clashes broke out in Hyderpora after the news about the death Aqib Gul spread in the area. Amid pro-freedom slogans, youth took to streets and pelted stones on the government forces. The Forces retaliated with tear-smoke shells. The violent clashes continued for hours resulting in the shutdown and suspension of traffic on the roads.
Reports said that thousands of people participated in the funeral prayers of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen militant Aaquib Gul.
Gul was laid to rest amid pro-freedom slogans at his ancestral graveyard in Goripora area of Hyderpora in Srinagar.
Women wailed and beat their chest as the body of Gul reached his home on Wednesday morning.
Reports from another militant’s native village said that five back to back funeral prayers were held for slain Hizb-ul-Mujahideen militant Javid Ahmed alias Tafazul Islam at his ancestral Churpora (Sadpora) village of Narbal in central Kashmir’s Budgam district.
Reports said that Javaid was laid to rest amid pro-freedom and pro-Zakir Moosa slogans at his ancestral graveyard.
Eyewitnesses said that tens of thousands of people participated in his funeral prayers in which banners extolling slain Hizb commander Burhan Wani were waved by the mourners.
A complete shutdown was observed in Magam, Aripanthan, Narbal and Beerwah area of the district to mourn these killings. (CNS)
