By: Umer Rashid
Srinagar: The nearly three-day long encounter between militants and security forces ended in Shopian district of south Kashmir. Two militants including top a JeM commander, Vilayat Lone alias Sajjad Afghani were killed in the gunfight which had ensued at Rawalpora area of the southern district 8:00 p.m. on Saturday last. Several houses were damaged were a few more persons were injured in clashes with a one suffering pellet injuries and a policeman Nazir Ahmad being hit on head.
“The encounter resumed in the wee hours after remaining suspended for the night,” a police spokesman said in a statement.
As the search operation was resumed, he said, “a contact with the holed up militants was again established and during the ensuing encounter one more militant was killed and his body was retrieved from the site of encounter.”
He has been identified as top JeM commander Vilayat Ahmad Lone alias Sajad Afghani of Shopian.
“As per police records, he was active since 08 September 2018 and was part of a group involved in executing a series of attacks on policemen, security forces and civilians,” the police spokesman said, adding, “He was also involved in attacks on security establishments and killings of civilians branding them as police and SF informers.”
Several cases were registered against him and was wanted by law for his complicity in several militancy-related cases including FIR No. 304/2018 PS Shopian threatening the people so as to keep them away from Panchayat polls including blazing a Panchayat Ghar at Kanji-ullar; FIR No. 307/2018 PS Shopian pertaining to barging into the houses of police personnel, abducting and killing of SgCt Nisar Ahmad, Follower Firdous Ahmad and SPO Kulwant Singh; FIR No. 343/2018 PS Shopian regarding attack on 34RR camp at Matribugh; FIR No. 362/2018 PS Shopian regarding abduction and killing of civilian Suhail Ahmad Ganai; FIR No. 35/2019 PS Shopian regarding killing of SPO Khusboo Jan and FIR No. 45/2019 PS Shopian regarding abduction and killing of civilian Tanveer Ahmad Dar.
One militant killed on Sunday has identified as Jahangir Ahmad Wani son of late Abdul Rehman Wani resident of Rakh Narapora Shopian, affiliated with LeT outfit was killed.”
“IGP Kashmir and GoC Victor Force conducted aerial monitoring of theoperation and Land Oorder situations at the encounter site,” he said, adding, “Both the officers have appreciated Police and security forces for the big success and conducting operation successfully without any collateral damage.”
The police claimed that incriminating materials including arms and ammunition were recovered from the site of encounter.
“The last rites of the killed militants shall be performed after conducting their medico-legal formalities and their nearest family members shall be allowed to participate in their last rites,” the spokesman said, adding, “In this connection a case under relevant sections of law has been registered and investigation has been initiated. People are requested to cooperate with police till the area is completely sanitized and cleared of all the explosive materials, if any.”
