Body of slain handed over to family; scores injured in clashes; internet snapped, colleges remain closed in Sopore, Baramulla
Suhail Khan
Srinagar, July 17 : A militant of Lashkar-e-Toiba outfit was killed in an encounter with government forces at Gund Brath area of Sopore in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district on Wednesday.
Reports reaching said that a joint team of army, SOG and CRPF launched a cordon-and-search operation today morning.
A police spokesman in a statement issued here said that the cordon was launched following a credible input in the area.
“During the search operation, the hiding militant fired on the search party. The fire was retaliated leading to an encounter”.
“In the ensuing encounter, one militant was killed and the body was retrieved from the site of the encounter. The slain has been identified as Adnan Ali Channa resident of Arampora Baramulla,” the spokesman said.
The slain as per police records was affiliated with LeT and was wanted by law for his complicity in militant attacks including attack on security establishments and civilian atrocities, he said.
“According to the Police records, he was operating in the areas of Baramulla and Sopore and was involved in planning and executing several attacks in the area. Several crime cases were registered against him including Case FIR No. 41/2019 pertaining to the killing of a civilian Arjumand Majeed Bhat in Jatti Baramulla in March 2019, Case FIR No. 33/2019 pertaining to firing on a civilian Feroz Ahmad Gojree of Zaloora Sopore in May 2019. He was involved in recruiting locals to the militant ranks,” the spokesman said.
Pertinently with the efforts of Police and security forces it was a clean operation and no collateral damage happened during the encounter, he said.
“Incriminating material including arms and ammunition were recovered from the site of encounter. All these materials have been taken into case records for further investigation and to probe their complicity in other crimes,” the spokesman said.
People are requested to cooperate with police till the area is completely sanitized and cleared of all the explosive materials if any, he said.
Meanwhile, a police officer said that after conducting all legal medico formalities, the body of the slain was handed over to his family for last rites. According to reports and eyewitnesses, a large number of people attended the funeral prayers of the slain at his native village.
Following the killing of the local militant, youth took to streets at Arampora Baramulla and its adjoining parts and started pelting stones on police and paramilitary CRPF. The forces deployed in the area used battons and tear smoke to disperse them. The pitched battle continues for some time resulting in injuries to at least seven youths and several policemen including two police officers of ASI ranks.
In wake of the gunfight, authorities have snapped mobile internet services and suspended class work in Degree Colleges of Baramulla and Sopore.
An official of the administration said that the decisions to block the internet and suspend class work were taken to maintain the law and order in these areas. (GNS)
