Top JeM commander killed in Tral encounter
Srinagar: Top commander of Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) Sham Sofi was killed in an encounter with security forces in Pulwama district of south Kashmir on Wednesday, police said.
Acting on specific inputs about the presence of militants in Tilwani Mohalla Waggad in the Tral area of Awantipora, in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district, security forces launched a cordon and search operation there, a police official said.
He said an encounter broke out after the militants opened fire at the security personnel, who retaliated.
In the exchange of fire, a militant was killed, the official said.
Inspector General of Police (Kashmir) Vijay Kumar said the slain militant has been identified as Sham Sofi who was a top JeM commander.
“Top JeM Commander #terrorist Sham Sofi killed in Tral #Encounter,” the IGP said on Kashmir Zone Police’s Twitter handle.
Meanwhile, police in a statement issued here said that the killed militant was categorized and active since June-2019 figuring among the list of most wanted militants operating in the valley.
“He was also part of groups involved in several terror crime cases including attacks on security establishments and civilian atrocities to which several terror crime cases stands already registered against him,” the statement added.
Pertinently, the killed militant was first arrested in year 2004 and detained under PSA. He was also involved in providing logistic support, shelter to the active militants operating in Tral area before joining terror folds, the statement said.
Moreover, he was also involved in motivating local youth to join terror folds and conspiring to destabilize the system by means of various terror acts. Besides, he was also involved in threatening the law abiding citizens and policemen also.
Incriminating materials including arms and ammunition were also recovered from the site of encounter. All the recovered materials have been taken into case records for further investigation, the spokesman said, adding that the police has registered a case under relevant sections of law and further investigation is in progress.
KV News
