In a major blow to militancy, a top commander of Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed outfit, Sajad Afghani, was killed by security forces in a three-day-long gunfight in south Kashmir's Shopian district on Monday.
Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Kashmir, Vijay Kumar, while confirming the killing of Wilayat Lone alias Sajad Afghani congratulated police and security forces for the successful operation.
“He (Afghani) was instrumental in recruiting militants in south Kashmir, especially in Shopian. It’s a big success to security forces and I congratulate them for this operation,” he told reporters.
On Sunday, a local Lashkar-e-Taiba militant identified as Jahangir Ahmad was also killed in an encounter. A US-made M4- rifle and 36 armour-piercing rounds were recovered from his possession.
The gunbattle had erupted on Friday evening after the army and J&K police launched a search operation in Rawalpora village of Shopian following specific inputs about the presence of Afghani and other militants in the area.
Due to darkness, the operation was suspended during nights, a police official said. However, the cordon remained intact for two nights.
Three houses were also damaged in the encounter while several protesters, who pelted stones at security forces were injured in the retaliatory action by the police.
Reports stated a 22-year-old youth identified as Arif Wagay, who suffered an injury in his left eye due to pellets was shifted to SMHS hospital in Srinagar on Sunday.
As a precautionary measure, internet services have been snapped in the Shopian district.
Published 15 March 2021, 07:52 IST