Two Hizb militants in Burhan’s video killed in Shopian

 

Ahmed Ali Fayyaz

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SRINAGAR, Oct 22: Police and security forces on Thursday claimed to have killed in Shopian area of South Kashmir two important militants of Hizbul Mujahideen who had reportedly figured in a video released by the fresh guerrilla icon Burhan Wani of Tral. The video had gone viral in media, particularly the social media.

Officials told STATE TIMES that Special Operations Group of Shopian District Police and troops from a unit of Rashtriya Rifles 62^nd battalion swooped down on a neighbourhood, over a tip off, at Manzimpora, not far away from Shopian. The militants hiding in an orchard engaged Police and Army in a fierce gunfight that lasted for over four hours. Two militants got killed. They were later identified as Irshad Ahmad Sheikh of Maldera and Adil Khanday of Barbugh Imam Sahib.

Adil Khanday along with his associates was allegedly involved in killing of three policemen in Amshipora, Shopian on April 6^th this year when they were returning to Shopian from an investigation site. A case of attempted murder under FIR No 88/2014 U/S 307 RPC, 7/27 IA Act in Police Station Zainapora was registered against him and other militants in a different matter.

Adil Khanday alongwith Ashiq Hussain Dar, who died in an encounter in February this year, was also involved in attack on Sarpanch namely Shiraz Ahmad Bhat of Sugan Shopian December 1, 2014.  Case FIR No 42/2015 U/S 307 RPC, 7/27 IA Act in Police Station Zainapora was registered against the duo.

Adil Khanday along with two more militants, namely Peer Shahnawaz and Adil Malik, had once taken shelter in a house in Barbugh. On a specific information security forces cordoned the area but they started indiscriminate firing on forces in which one army soldier was killed and the militants managed to escape. He was also involved in case FIR No’s 15/2015 dated 06/04/2015 U/S 302,120C RPC 7/27 IA Act and 03/2015 PP Kakapora U/S 452,307,393 RPC 7/27 IA. Act.

Officials claimed that Irshad Ahmad Sheikh was also involved in several militancy related cases. They described the two militants’ death in the encounter as a major achievement for Police and security forces.

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