Militant affiliated with Zakir Musa group killed
Pulwama: Security forces on Wednesday killed a militant in an encounter in a forest in Tral in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district, police said.
Security forces launched a cordon and search operation in the Branpatri forest area of Tral on Wednesday morning following information about the presence of militants in the area, a police spokesperson said.
During the search operation the hiding militant fired on the search party. The fire was retaliated leading to an encounter, the spokesman said.
“In the ensuing encounter, one militant was killed and the body was retrieved from the site of encounter,” the official added
The slain militant has been identified as Shabir Ahmad Malik from Nagbal Tral, said a police spokesman.
“As per the police records, he was initially affiliated with proscribed outfit LeT and later on was part of Zakir Musa group.”
Shabir, as per police records, was wanted by law for his complicity in several crimes including attack on security establishments and civilian atrocities.
“He was part of groups responsible for planning and executing attacks in the area. Several crime cases were registered against him including case FIR No. 43/15 of Police Station Trikuta Nagar pertaining to the planning and making preparations for carrying out attacks in Jammu,” he said.
Meanwhile, as the reports of an encounter spre3ad in Tral township youth in the area assembled on main roads and started pelting stones on forces which they retaliated with tear smoke shells and firing pellet guns.
During clashes two youth received injuries and were shifted to sub-district hospital Tral for treatment.
An official in the hospital confirmed that only two youth with pellet injuries were received while one among them was referred to SMHS Srinagar for specialized treatment.
A police official said that according to police records, slain Shabir had joined militant ranks in August, 2018 with LeT outfit, however, few months back he switched over to Zakir Musa led AGH.
Police sources say that Shabir was assigned the job of a spokesperson of the outfit after the Zakir Musa was killed on 23 May, this year.
“After performing legal medical formalities the slain Shabir was handed over to his family for last rites” police said.
People in thousands participated in funeral prayers of the slain militant, an eyewitness said.
Meanwhile, in the wake of gunfight mobile internet services were suspended in police district Awantipora as a precautionary measure.
Jahangeer Ganaie
