The Kashmir Pulse

SRINAGAR — A gunfight has started between militants and government forces in Haripora Imam Sahib area of south Kashmir's Shopian district on Wednesday.

Reports reaching GNS said that a joint team of Police, Army and CRPF launched a cordon and search operation in Haripora area.

As the joint team of forces approached the suspected spot, the hiding militants fired upon the forces, triggering off a gunfight.

A senior police officer also confirmed to GNS about the exchange of firing between the militants and security forces.

As per the sources, two to three militants are believed to be trapped.

SRINAGAR — Two militants, one each belonging to Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind (AGuH) and Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT), were killed in an encounter with a joint team of Police and Army at Tral area of Awantipora in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district on Wednesday morning, officials said.

“AGuH (militant) Safat Muzzaffar Sofi alias Muavia and LeT’s Umer Teli alias Talha killed in Tral,” Inspector General of Police Vijay Kumar said in a tweet.

“Before shifting to Tral area, both were involved in several (militant) crimes in Srinagar city including the recent killing of Sarpanch (Sameer Ahmad) in Khanmoh Srinagar,” he added.

Earlier, reports said that a joint team of police and the Army launched a cordon and search operation in Tral.

As the joint team approached the suspected spot, the hiding militants fired upon them, triggering off the gunfight, they added.

SRINAGAR — Jammu and Kashmir Police on Friday said that one local militant of Lashkar-i-Toiba outfit was killed in an overnight gunfight in the area of Turkwagam of south Kashmir’s Shopian district.

A top Police officer, while confirming to GNS, said that the operation is over with the killing of one local LeT militant.

The slain militant has been identified as Muneeb Ahmad Shiekh, resident of Tak Mohalla, Shopian. He was missing since January this year, the officer added.

The operation was halted last night due to darkness and was resumed today with the first day of light.

On Thursday evening, a joint team of Police, Army’s 44RR and CRPF had launched a cordon and search operation in the area.

As the joint team of forces were moving towards the suspected spot, the hiding militants fired upon the forces, triggering off a gunfight.

SHOPIAN — An encounter broke out between militants and security forces at Turkwangam village of South Kashmir’s Shopian district on Thursday, officials said.

An official told news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that a joint team of Police, Army's 44 RR and CRPF launched a cordon and search operation on specific information about the presence of militants in the area.

He said that as the joint team of forces approached the suspected spot, militants fired upon them which was retaliated triggering an encounter.

As per the sources two to three militants are believed to be trapped in the area.

SRINAGAR — Jammu & Kashmir Police on Wednesday said two militants have been killed in a gunfight in Srinagar on Wednesday. The police said that one of the slain militants was earlier a journalist and was running a news portal.

In a tweet, according to news agency Kashmir News Observer (KNO), police said Rayees Ahmad Bhat, one of the two militants killed in the gunfight, was earlier a journalist and was running online news portal 'Valley News Service' in Anantnag.

According to the police, Bhat joined militant ranks in August 2021 and was "C" category militant in their list. "2 FIRs are already registered against him for terror crimes," police said.

It said that second killed militant has been identified as Hilal Ahmad Rah of Bijbehara, who was also a "C" category militant.

SRINAGAR — Three militants affliated with TRF an offshoot of Lashkar-i-Toiba were killed on Wednesday in an encounter with security forces in Nowgam area of Centre Kashmir’s Srinagar district, police said.

A senior police officer told GNS that three LeT militants were killed in an operation at Nowgam.

Inspector General of Police Kashmir Vijay Kumar told GNS that these three militants of LeT were involved in recent killing of Sarpanch Sameer Bhat.

Bhat was critically injured on 9th march as he received two bullets in his chest near his home in Khanmoh. He was immediately shifted to the Shri Maharaja Hari Singh (SMHS) hospital, where doctors operated him. However he succumbed to his injuries latter.

Earlier on a specific input generated by JK Police, the joint team of Police launched a cordon and search operation in the area.

As the joint team of forces intensified searches towards the suspected spot, the hiding militants fired upon the forces triggering off a gunfight.

SRINAGAR — An Unidentified militant has been killed on Wednesday in an ongoing encounter with security forces in Nowgam area of Centre Kashmir’s Srinagar district, police said.

A senior police officer told GNS that an Unidentified militant has need killed in an ongoing encounter.

Inspector General of Police Kashmir Vijay Kumar told GNS that militants of LeT oufit are trapped in the ongoing encounter and involved in recent killing of Sarpanch Sameer Bhat.

Earlier on a specific input generated by JK Police, the joint team of Police launched a cordon and search operation in the area.

As the joint team of forces intensified searches towards the suspected spot, the hiding militants fired upon the forces triggering off a gunfight.

Pertinently a LeT militant was killed in Charsoo area of Awantipora of Pulwama district.

SRINAGAR — A militant has been killed in an ongoing encounter at Charsoo area of Awantipora in South Kashmir’s Pulwama district on Tuesday.

Official sources told GNS, that one militant has been killed in an ongoing encounter, however identity of the slain militant is yet to be ascertained.

Earlier Reports reaching GNS that a joint team of Police and army launched a cordon and search operation in Charsoo.

As the joint team of forces approached towards the suspected spot, the hiding militants fired upon the forces, triggering off a gunfight.

SRINAGAR — Police on Thursday said that a “Pakistani” militant who was active from last six months in Srinagar was killed in a brief shootout in Hazratbal area of the summer capital of J&K.

“A police party was tracking him and his aim was to carry attack on the police guard at the shrine and snatch his rifle,” Inspector general of Police Vijay Kumar told reporters at the scene. “Soon after seeing the police party he fired with pistol and the fire was retaliated, leading to the killing of the militant,” the top police officer said, adding, “He was a Pakistani and was active from last six months. His video had also gone viral recently,” he said. He said two more militants fled from the scene and “we are tracking them using CCTVs etc.”

To a question by a journalist that how police see the attack near Hazratbal given the faith of the people from all religions with the place, he said, “The aim, like the incident in Pulwama mosque today and at this shrine, was to hurt the religious sentiments and create law and order problem.” He said that pistol has been recovered from site at Hazratbal.

IGP Kashmir termed the Haider’s killing in Srinagar as a “big success and congratulated the Police for conducting successful operation without any collateral damage especially to the nearby historical religious place.”

Meanwhile, the IGP told GNS that killed militant has been identified as Haider and he was a TRF commander.

Later in a statement this evening Police gave full identification of the killed as Manzoor alias Haider alias Hamzah, a Pakistani national. “The killed (militant) along with two other (militants) who managed to escape from the spot were on a mission to snatch weapon from the police personnel guarding the Hazratbal Shrine,” a police spokesperson said, adding, “The timely action of small police party who were tracking them led to the (killing) of (militant). Efforts are on to track the other two (militants) who fled from the spot”

As per police records, the spokesperson said, Haider was a close associate of militant commander Mehran LeT (TRF) and “was involved in several cases.”

SRINAGAR — Two Lashkar-e-Toiba militants were killed and as many soldiers were injured in a gunfight in Pulwama district of south Kashmir on Thursday.

“Based on a specific input regarding presence of (militants) in village Naina Batpora area of Pulwama, a joint cordon and search operation was launched by Police, Army (55RR) and 182Bn CRPF in the area,” a police spokesperson said in a statement to GNS.

“During the search operation as the presence of (militants) in a separate structure nearby a local Mosque got ascertained they were given ample opportunities to surrender and repeated appeals were made to them” he said, adding, “Instead, they fired indiscriminately upon the joint search party, leading to an encounter”.

Keeping in view the sanctity of the mosque, the spokesperson said the joint team exercised “maximum restraint” to ensure no damage to it and “two Army personnel sustained splinter injuries during the encounter.” Both the injured were evacuated to hospital where their condition is stated to be stable, he said.

“In the ensuing encounter, two (militants) affiliated with LeT were killed and their bodies were recovered from the site of encounter.” They have been identified as Shahid Ahmed Khan son of Mohi-ud-din Khan of Batpora, Pulwama and Fayaz Sheikh son of Ghulam Rasool Sheikh of Shahpora, Ganderbal. “As per police records both the killed were categorized (militants) and were wanted by law in many cases.”

Meanwhile authorities suspended train service between Banihal to Budgam in view of the gunfight.

Official sources told GNS that the gunfight was close to Panzgam station and the services will be resumed as normal from tomorrow.

SRINAGAR — Police on Friday said that a newly recruited militant was arrested in an injured condition at Langate Handwara in north Kashmir's Kupwara district.

A top police officer told GNS that the injured is presently admitted to the hospital where his condition is stated to be stable.

The injured militant has been identified as Abrar Hassan son of Ghulam Hassan Gojri, resident of Azad Gunj Baramulla, the officer said.

The top police further said that Abrar was earlier a stone pelter and there are two FIRs registered against him. Later on, he started working as an OGW.

He said that searches have been launched to trace another militant who was accompanying the injured.

He said there was a brief shootout as soon as the duo saw the joint party of Police and Army.