Kashmir Live: Pak Call Sabzar’s Death “Extra Judicial Killing”
Search operations are underway in both Rampur and Tral areas.
- Top Hizbul Mujahideen commander, Sabzar Ahmad Bhat, who succeeded Burhan Wani, has been killed in Tral
- One more terrorist was killed in the same encounter with security forces
- A civilian was killed and at least 30 people were today injured in violent clashes
- Internet and mobile services were suspended in the Valley within hours of lifting the month-long ban on Saturday
- On Saturday morning, security forces also gunned down six terrorists in Kashmir’s Rampur
- Two BAT attackers were killed as Indian Army foiled another infiltration bid in Uri on Friday
Top Hizbul commander Sabzar Ahmad Bhat alias Abu Zarar, a close aide of militant 'poster boy' Burhan Wani, was killed on Saturday after a gunfight in Tral in south Kashmir, triggering widespread protests in the Valley once again, with one civilian death reported and 35 injured, including five policemen. Authorities were bracing to prevent a recurrence of the 2016 unrest that saw nearly 100 dead.
In another gunfight, six militants were killed by the army when an infiltration bid was foiled on Saturday in Rampur sector of the Line of Control in Baramulla district.
The Hurriyat Conference has called for a two-day valley wide shutdown to protest the killing of Bhat and also called for a "March to Tral" on 30 May.
The authorities imposed curfew in seven police station areas in the Old City and one in uptown Mysuma as a preventive measure. The funeral of Bhat is set to take place on Sunday in Tral.
As news of the killing spread, a spontaneous shutdown was observed in all districts and major towns of the Valley and protests started in Anantnag, Shopian, Kulgam, Pulwama, Badgam, Ganderbal, Srinagar and Kupwara.
Public transport went off the roads throughout the Valley as people rushed home in their private vehicles while others walked long distances. Schools and colleges were also shut.
Over 30 people were injured in clashes at different places in the Valley. Five security personnel were also injured.
Pak Calls Sabzar's Death "Extra Judicial Killing"
Pakistan condemned the killing of Sabzr Bhat, and accused India of carrying out “extra judicial killings”, News 18 reported.
Pakistan urged the International Community to intervene in the matter, saying that 12 Kashmiri youths were killed since Saturday, out of which three were martyred extra-judicially “as has been done on several occasions.”
Pakistani Prime Minister's Adviser on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz accused India of making attempts to discredit the Kashmiri indigenous movement. He also alleged that India was trying to change the demography of Kashmir to convert the majority Kashmiri into minority territory, which Pakistan has brought to the attention of the UN.
Search Operation Still On: Army
In a press conference, the army said that the army’s surveillance device had been tracking the movement of the terrorists continuously before they were engaged. The army officer also said that certain objects including medicines were recovered from the slain terrorists.
Prepaid Mobile Services Banned from 6 pm
Prepaid Mobile Services to be barred in Kashmir Valley from 6pm today till further orders.
One Civilian Killed and 30 Injured in Kashmir Unrest
A civilian was killed and at least 30 people were today injured in violent clashes between protesters and security forces in the Kashmir Valley.
However, the protesters alleged he was killed during clashes with the security forces.
According to an official at sub-district hospital Tral, 19 injured people were admitted there. While six persons had bullet injuries, 13 others were hit by pellets.
A teenager, Samir Ahmad, was hit by a tear smoke shell in the head in Mattan area of Anantnag district during clashes between security forces and protesters. He was rushed to a hospital here in a critical condition.
Five persons were injured in Shopian district during similar protests, he said adding the number of injured people across the valley might go up by the end of the day as intense clashes were reported from many parts.
Five police personnel were also injured during the clashes and have been taken to police hospital here for treatment, the official said.
10 Armed Terrorists Killed in Last 24 Hours: Army
In an official statement, the army said:
“In the last 24 hours, 10 heavily armed terrorists have been successfully eliminated,” the army added.”
Social Media Banned – Again
Within hours of lifting the month-long ban on social networking sites, the Jammu and Kashmir government suspended internet services in the Valley again.
Stone-Pelting Starts in South Kashmir
A spontaneous two day long shutdown was observed in the Kashmir Valley by the Hurriyat following violent protests, soon after the killings of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Sabzar Ahmad Bhat, along with another militant in an encounter with security forces in Tral area of Kashmir's Pulwama district, stone-pelting protests started at several places in the Valley.
Stone pelting incidents have been reported in some parts of south Kashmir, including Tral in Pulwama and Khanabal in Anantnag district, an official said.
He said the law enforcement agencies are on the job to disperse the protestors.
Soon after the killings, stone-pelting protests started at around 50 places, including Tral in Pulwama and Khanabal in Anantnag in south Kashmir, the police said.
A person in Mattan area in the district was injured during clashes with security forces, they said.
The situation across the Valley is tense. Unnerved people rushed to their homes, leading to traffic snarls on certain routes. The schools closed three hours early.
How the Operation Unfolded
Security forces launched a cordon and search operation in Soimoh village of Tral, following information about the presence of some top Hizbul Mujahideen militants in the area, a police official said.
He said the operation was launched after militants opened firing on an army patrol in Tral area on Friday night.
The official said as the security forces were closing on the building where the militants were hiding, the ultras opened fire.
Sabzar Ahmad Bhat Gunned Down
Top Hizbul Mujahideen commander, Sabzar Ahmad Bhat, who replaced Burhan Muzafar Wani after he was killed in an intelligence-driven police operation in Anantnag in July last year, is reportedly one of the two terrorists killed in Tral, Kashmir. Wani's killing had sparked violence in the Kashmir Valley for months.
Three terrorists had reportedly been holed up late Friday night in Saimoh village of Tral in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district.
On Saturday morning, two were said to be killed, while the third continued to remain trapped, Director General of Police S P Vaid confirmed.
Bhat is reported to have been the brain behind using social media as a weapon.
Faizan – a class X student from Tral – who had allegedly become a militant was also killed on Saturday. Combing operations are still in progress.
Two More Dead in Rampur
Two more terrorists have been killed in Kashmir’s Rampur sector, raising the number of militants gunned down by the Indian Army to six. Four AK-47 rifles and one pistol were recovered from six terrorists killed by security forces.
Infiltration Bid Foiled in Rampur, Tral
The Indian Army gunned down four terrorists in a combing operation in Jammu and Kashmir’s Rampur sector on Saturday morning, according to ANI.
Three other terrorists were trapped in Tral area’s Saimu village, ANI reported, where the encounter began late Friday night. Search operations are underway in both Rampur and Tral.
Director General of Police of Jammu and Kashmir, Shesh Paul Vaid, tweeted about terrorists trapped in Tral:
Weapons Recovered from Bodies
An AK-47 rifle and one pistol was recovered from the two bodies of Pakistan's Border Action Team (BAT) attackers, in Jammu and Kashmir’s Uri, on Friday.
Indian Army Foils Attack
On Friday, the Indian Army said its troops foiled an attack by BAT on a patrol party along the Line of Control (LoC) in Uri sector of Kashmir, killing two attackers.
"Alert troops foiled a BAT attack on our patrol party in Uri sector today. Two BAT terrorists were killed in the operation," an army official said in Srinagar.
The BAT attack was effectively repulsed, the official said.
According to police sources, the bodies of the two slain attackers were lying in no man's land along the LoC.
(With inputs from PTI.)
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