Four Al-Badr militants killed, one surrenders in Shopian: Army

Four Al-Bard militants, including a cop-turned-ultra who had decamped with four weapons, were killed in an encounter with security forces in south Kashmir’s Shopian district on Friday. One of the militants hiding in the area surrendered before the forces.

Reports said the encounter broke out after security forces launched a cordon-and-search operation in Kiloora area of Shopian, 55 kms from here, following ‘specific information’ about the presence of a group of militants there.

The search operation turned into an encounter after the militants fired upon a search party of the security forces, which was retaliated, a police official said and added in the ensuing exchange of fire, four militants were killed.

“A terrorist surrenders while four terrorists have been eliminated in an ongoing encounter in Kiloora area of Shopian district. Two AKs and three pistols recovered. Joint operation in progress,” PRO Defence, Col Rajesh Kalia said in a statement.

The slain militants were identified as Shakoor Parray, Al-Badr district commander, Suhail Bhat, Zubair Nengroo and Shakir-ul-Jabbar while the arrested ultras was identified as Shoiab Ahmad Bhat.

As per police records, Shakoor Parray got engaged as special police officer (SPO) in 2014 and on operational grounds was converted as constable. “He took away four rifles (weapons) from the other officials and joined the terrorist outfit. After joining the terrorist groups, he got active in the area and distributed the snatched weapons among his close associates,” a police spokesperson said.

“He was the main handler of proscribed terrorist outfit Al Badr and was involved in recruiting youth into terror ranks,” he added.

Police said they were involved in the abduction and killing of a panchayat member in neighboring Pulwama district.

Al Badr was born out of the Hizb-ul-Mujahideen in 1998 after the ISI encouraged terrorists to operate independently. The outfit has a history of perpetrating violence in Afghanistan and Kashmir. Al-Badr was proscribed by the government of India in 2002.

Since the beginning of this year, security forces have killed more than 155 militants, including 26 top commanders in J&K.