Six militants of Zakir Musa led AGH killed in Tral
Among the slain was the Deputy Chief of the group
Tral: Six militants including the Deputy Chief of Zakir Musa led AnsarUlGazwatul Hind (AGH) were killed in a gunfight which broke out between militants and government forces in Arampora area of Awantipora in South Kashmir’s Pulwama district on Saturday morning.
Reports said that a joint team of army’s 42RR, 180 Battalion of the CRPF and SOG Awantipora launched a cordon and search operation in Arampora after receiving credible inputs about the presence of some militants in the area.
As soon as the joint team of forces intensified searches towards suspected spot the hiding militants fired upon the government forces triggering an encounter.
Official sources said that six militants were killed who were affiliated with Zakir Musa led group AnsarulGazwatul Hind.
Among the slian militants one is believed to be the deputy chief of AGH identified as Soliha@Rehaan Khan of Arampora,
As per locals the search operation was launched in the area around 4 am in the morning.
“The militants were sitting in a hideout made in an orchard in Armpora village,” a police official said.
All the slain militants are locals and were associated with Zakir Musa led group AGH, he said
The slain were identified as Soliha Mohammad Akhoon son of Ghulam Mohammad Akhoon of Arampora who as per police was deputy of AnsarGazwatul hind, Rasik Mir son of GhulamQadir, Rouf Mir son of GhulamNabi, UmerRamzan son of Mohammad Ramzan Mir, residents of Dadsara, NadeemSofi son of Mohammad MuzaffarSofi of Batgund, Tral at present Dadsara and Faisal JavidKhanday son of JavidKhanday of AmlarAwantipora.
SolihaAkhoon according to locals has joined militant ranks in 2015 and after remaining active for two years with Hizbul, he along with Zakir Musa formed AnsarGazwatul Hind.
Akhoon was considered as the right hand of Zakir Musa and his killing is a huge blow to the group which now comprises of only four people after the killing of his six associates on Saturday morning.
Soliha, according to locals was a bright student. He after passing his 12th class was pursuing computer engineering before joining the militant ranks. Soliha is now survived by one brother and one sister, besides his parents.
Rasik according to locals joined HM during 2016, however, after Zakir Musa parted ways with the outfit, Rasik also joined his group.
Rasik was severely beaten by forces twice after he was arrested by forces for having links with militants, said his relative while adding that the ‘torture by forces’ forced him to join militant ranks.
Before joining militant ranks Rasik had completed his graduation and was a very kind hearted and down to earth person, said his friend.
He is survived by three brothers and one sister besides, his parents.
Among the slain militants another one was identified as NadeemMuzafarSofi son of MuzafarSofi resident of BatgundTral. Nadeem along with his brother were adopted by his maternal uncle of Dadsara after their mother died when Nadeem was just three year old.
Nadeem (20), a 12th class pass according to his cousin was arrested by forces in 2017 over having militant connection, later he was released.
During the beginning of 2018 there were many grenade attacks in Tral area and police started suspected Nadeem’s hand in these blasts. He was frequently told to visit police station as according to them he was involved in grenade attacks however, Nadeem was evading his arrest, he said.
“When forces intensified their raids in tracing out Nadeem, he went into hiding for about 2 months and later fearing arrest he joined AGH in April 2018,” added the relative.
He is survived by his brother besides grandparents, however, his father is living separately with his second wife in Batgundtral.
Umer and Rouf, who were close friends both left home in November this year after forces started searching for them as according to them they were accompanying Zakir Musa to Punjab, locals said.
Both were second year students and we’re killed within a period of one month after joining the militant ranks, they said.
Umer is survived by two brothers besides parents while as Rouf was the lone son of Mir dynasty and is now survived by younger sister besides his parents.
Rouf according to locals belonged to a poor family of the area and he was the only hope of the family as his father is visually impaired and isn’t able to do any kind of work.
Faisal Javid according to locals joined Zakir Musa group in beginning of 2018 and was a student of Polytechnic College Anantnag before joining the militant ranks.
He is survived by two brothers besides, his parents.
Meanwhile, thousands of people took part in the last rites of six militants.
Eyewitnesses said that thousands of people including women and children took part in the funeral prayers held for Mohammad SolihaAkhoon at his native village Arampora. Similar scenes were witnessed at DadsaraTral where several rounds of funeral prayers were held for Rasik, Nadeem, Umer and Rouf.
Witnesses said that several rounds of funeral prayers were also held for Faisal at Amlar.
The mourners were raising slogans in favour of Islam and Kashmir’s freedom during the funeral procession, they said.
Meanwhile, police in a statement issued here late evening said that all the six were wanted by the law for their complicity in a series of crimes including attack on security establishments and civilian atrocities. This group was part of Zakir Musa faction and was active in district Pulwama.
As per Police records, Rasiq had a long history of crime records since last five years. Several cases were registered against him including case FIR number 170/2016 under section 13, 18, 18E, 20 ULAP Act.
Soliha according to police records also had a long history of militant crimes since 2015 and was involved in several attacks on security establishments and many other civilian atrocities in the area.
Similarly Nadeem and Umar were also involved in several terror crimes. Also Rouf and Faisal were involved in planning and executing many attacks in the area.
The spokesman said that Arms and ammunition including rifles were recovered from the site of encounter. All these materials have been taken in the case records for further investigation and probe their complicity in other militant cases.
Jahangeer Ganaie
