People in large numbers attend funeral of deceased woman

Precious Kashmir NEws

Srinagar, Sept 17: Three Hizbul Mujahideen militants and a woman were killed and a Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) officer injured in an encounter in Batamaloo area of Srinagar on Thursday.

Director General of Police (DGP) Dilbagh Singh told a press conference here that following a tip off about the presence of militants Special Operation Group (SOG) of Jammu and Kashmir police and CRPF launched a joint CASO at 0300 hrs at Batmaloo area of the city.

Batmaloo is little over a km from Civil Secretariat, seat of the government, including the office of Lt Governor, his advisors and top bureaucrats and Police Control Room (PCR).

He said all exit points were sealed and with the first light this morning when security forces were moving towards target house they came under fire from militants. Security forces also retaliated ensuing in an encounter, he said adding a Deputy Commandant of CRPF who was leading Quick Action Team (QAT) and a woman were injured.

The CRPF officer was admitted to 92 Base hospital while woman was rushed to civil hospital, Singh said adding unfortunately woman identified as Kousar Reyaz succumbed.

The DGP said all the three holed-up militants were killed in the gunfight, which ended this morning.

The deceased militants belonged to Hizbul Mujahideen and they have been identified as Zakir Ahmad Paul son of Nisar Ahmad R/o Aloora Imam Sahib Shopian, Ubair Mushtaq Bhat son of Mushtaq Ahmad Bhat R/o Badragund Kulgam and Adil Hussain Bhat son of Abdul Rashid Bhat R/o Batapora Chersoo Awantipora.

A police spokesman said the slain militants were involved in several attacks in Srinagar City and South Kashmir.

The spokesman said  keeping in view the prevailing pandemic due to COVID-19 and to ensure the safety of people from inherent risk of contracting the infection, the bodies of the deceased militants shall be sent to Baramulla for burial after completion of all medico-legal formalities.

However, body of woman will be handed over to her relatives for last rites since she had nothing to do with militancy, the DGP said.

He said during this year there were seven operations in Srinagar in which 16 militants, including Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) and commanders of other outfits were killed.

Singh said out of these militants only five were residents of Srinagar while 11 others were from different parts of the valley.

“Normally we are initiating action against militants,” he said adding but some time militants too attack.

This year militants killed two policemen at Nowgam, two BSF jawan at Pandach and attacked a naka party at Pantha Chowk. We lost a good officer of SOG but killed three militants after Pantha Chowk attack, he said.

He said militants will not be allowed to disturb peace in the city for which every step will be taken.

Meanwhile, stone pelting incidents were reported in Batamaloo area today during which forces used tear gas canisters to disperse the youth.

However, immediately after the encounter was over and forces were leaving the area, demonstrators, mostly youth, hit the streets and pelted stones on forces.

The resorted to lathicharge and burst teargas shells to disperse the demonstrators, who were raising slogans.

The clashes continued for some time.

In the evening, authorities handed over body of the deceased woman to the family following which her last rites were performed.

People in large number attended her funeral prayers.

Srinagar, Sept 17:  Director General of Police (DGP) Dilbagh Singh Wednesday said 177 militants including 20 foreigners have been killed in 72 operations by troops in Jammu and Kashmir in 2020 so far.

“Forces conducted 72 operation in the Jammu and Kashmir this year during which 177 militants, including top commander of different outfits were killed,” DGP told reporters today.

He said 12 of them were killed in Jammu and rest in Kashmir valley.

“22 of the slain militants  were Pakistani nationals, which proves the involvement of neighbouring country,” the DGP said.

He said majority of militants of Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) and Lahker-e-Toiba (LeT) are also from Pakistan.

The DGP said  Pakistan agencies are hatching conspiracies in Karachi to revive old Al-Badr outfit and create new militant groups in the Jammu and Kashmir for fomenting trouble .

“Pak agencies are preparing plans in Karachi for execution in J&K, he said.

He said Pak agencies are trying to create new militant outfit besides revive old group in the valley. Recently it surfaced that Pak agencies are trying to revive Al-Badr militant outfit, he said adding we have arrested a number of militants of this outfit.

The Pak involvement in the militancy in the Kashmir valley is beyond any doubt, the police Chief said adding they are trying to destroy our youth. But, he said, we will not tolerate their interference in the development of our youth.

Reiterating his appeal to youth who have gone astray to return to mainstream, Singh said 20 youths who had joined militancy shunned the violence and joined their families again.

“We appeal to youth who have taken the path of violence to come back and lead a normal and honourable life,” he said.

The police chief said security agencies, including police are making all efforts to see the youths who have taken up arms return back to mainstream. However, those who will not shun the path of violence will be dealt with, he said.

He said due to the hectic efforts by police and other agencies besides parents, 20 youth, who had joined militancy, have returned to mainstream. However, their details will not be divulged keeping in view their safety and security, he said.

He said if a youth goes astray it not only affects his family but entire society.

Death toll rises to 954, cases rises to 59,711

Nadeem Nadu

Srinagar, Sept 17:  A 26-year-old youth was among 19 more people who succumbed to covid-19 in Jammu and Kashmir in last 24 hours, taking its fatality count to 954.

Five of the deaths were reported from Kashmir Valley and 14 from Jammu division, officials said.

Among the deaths from Kashmir Valley, they said, a 95-year-old woman from Bandipora, a 65-year-old from Pirbagh, a 62-year-old woman from Lal Bazar, a man from Chewdara Beerwa , a 73-year-old man from Tral area of south Kashmir’s Pulwama district.

Among others, the victims from Jammu include a 38-year-old man from Ramgarh, a 74-year-old man from Mahendra Nagar, a 65-year-old man from Residency Road, an 86-year-old from Lazpal Nagar and a 26-year-old from Patoli Battadeh Jammu.

With these deaths, 954 people has lost lives to the virus in Jammu and Kashmir—755 from Valley and 199 from Jammu.

Jammu and Kashmir recorded 1467 fresh cases today, thus taking the toll of positive cases to 59,711.

Among the fresh 1,467 new cases today, 682 belong to Kashmir division while 785 are from Jammu division.

Of the total 59,711 cases, 39,127 are from Kashmir and 20,583 from Jammu division.

The total number of positive cases in Kashmir division have reached to 39,128 including 29,592 recoveries and 752 deaths while total number of positive cases in Jammu division have reached to 20,583 including 8,929 recoveries and 199 deaths.

The officials said that total number of active cases in Jammu and Kashmir are 20,5239 including 8,784 from Kashmir division and 11,455 from Jammu division.

With 712 more recoveries, the tally of total recoveries in Jammu and Kashmir has reached to 38,521, which is 64.51 percent of the total cases and was over 78 percent over a week back.

“Cases tested positive in J&K include 233 from Srinagar, 89 from Budgam, 53 from Baramulla, 28 from Pulwama, 78 from Anantnag, 47 from Kupwara, 55 from Bandipora, 14 from Kulgam, 75from Ganderbal  and 10 from Shopian in Kashmir division while as 785 from Jammu division include 210 from Jammu, 82 from Udhampur, 88 from Rajouri, 75 from Kathua, 69 from Samba, 75 from Poonch, 18 from Ramban, 97 from Doda, 27 from Reasi and 44 from Kishtiwar,” officials disclosed.