A victory for security forces who encountered 5 Hizbul terrorists in Jammu Kashmir’s Shopian district, according to J&K police. One of the five terrorists was a Kashmir University Professor, Mohammad Rafi Bhat, who was reported missing on Friday.
“Encounter concluded at Badigam, Zainpora in Shopian, 5 bodies of terrorists recovered,” said SP Vaid, Director General of Police, Jammu & Kashmir.
Among the slain terrorist, the name of top Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist Saddam Padder is also reported, however, police can only ascertain it after identifying bodies.
In less than 24 hours after forces killed three militants, a clash between protestors and law enforcing agencies broke out, where 5 civilians died in a gun firing in Chattabal area.
Bhatt, 33 years old the resident of the Chundina area of Ganderbal district and a contractual professor of sociology, left home on Friday. On finding him missing, his family informed the university officials and requested them to trace the missing professor.
This morning, Bhatt was found trapped with the other terrorists in the encounter. The other terrorist killed were Bilal Moulvi, Adil Malik, Tawseef Sheikh and Mohomad Rafi Bhat.
A policeman and a soldier of the 44 Rastriya Riffles also got injured in between battle.
“You stop firing and come out. For God’s sake, stop firing, you will get nothing from it,” Shopian SSP Shailendra Kumar Mishra blasted over the speaker phone. The response was more gun firing.
Police also made an attempt to persuade Bhatt by bringing his family, but it was to no avail. In the meantime, clashes appeared between stone pelting youth and security forces. “A number of youths suffered injuries during the clashes and were rushed to hospitals. Of them, five have succumbed to injuries,” the official said.
Mobile services are stopped in South Kashmir area and classes and examinations have been postponed in Kashmir University.
