Suhail Khan
Srinagar, June 19: June has been the bloodiest month in south Kashmir’s Shopian district where 22 militants have been killed in the last 12 days.
The Shopian and Pulwama districts are considered hotbed for militancy.
For the last few weeks, the government forces have intensified anti-militancy operations in Shopian district.
As per figures available with news agency Kashmir Indepth News Service (KINS), 22 militants including some top commanders have been killed in the current month in Shopian district so far.
On Friday morning, five militants were killed in a gunfight with forces in Shopian. As per the data on June 7, a gunfight broke out in Reban Shopian in which five militants were killed.
Four militants were killed in Pinjor Shopian on June 8.
On June 11, five militants were killed In Sugoo Hendhama area of Shopian.
In the Turkawangam Shopian gunfight which was reported on June 16, three militants including a top Hibz commander were killed.
A police official said the encounters took place in Shopian after security forces received specific inputs about presence of militants in these areas. “Killing of 22 militants in 19 days is a big achievement for security forces,” the official said.
For the past few months, the police are not handing over the bodies of militants to their family members. Instead they are being buried in Sonamarg or in Baramulla.
