Self-styled Hizb ops commander Ghaznavi killed in Shopian gunfight

YOUTH KILLED IN ALLEGED SECURITY FORCES’ FIRING

14/08/2017
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SRINAGAR, Aug 13: In a jolt to Hizbul Mujahideen, its three militants, including self-styled chief operations commander Yasin Itoo alias 'Gaznavi', were killed in an encounter that began last night and also claimed the lives of two armymen in Shopian district of South Kashmir.
Following a tip-off to the local police, a cordon was laid in Awnira village of Shopian last night by the Special Operations Group of the Jammu and Kashmir Police, Army and the CRPF.
Militants fired at the approaching security personnel, wounding five Army personnel, two of whom later died. This prompted the security forces to wait till dawn while keeping a tight cordon around the area before launching a major strike.
Intermittent firing continued the whole night, and the operation began in full swing in the morning. All three terrorists holed up were killed. They were identified as Irfan, a tech-savvy militant involved in online propaganda for the militant outfit, and Umar, who was personal security man of Ghaznavi.
Itoo, from Budgam district of central Kashmir, had a long association with Hizbul Mujahideen and was involved in keeping alive the prolonged unrest of 2016 following the killing of group's commander Burhan Wani in an encounter with security forces, besides recruiting several young men into the outfit, police said.
He was identified by his family members who were brought to the scene of the encounter by police from their residence in Budgam.
Itoo, often called a 'vintage militant' as he joined Hizbul Mujahideen in 1996, had surrendered in 2007 and later released on parole in 2014. He joined the militant group again and was its self-styled chief operations commander.
One Kevyt Konekivaan (KK) series rifle used by Itoo and two AK series rifles were recovered from the encounter scene.
Security forces launched a cordon and search operation yesterday following information about the presence of militants in Awnira village of Zainapora area of the district.
As the forces were conducting searches, the militants opened fire which was returned.
Five soldiers were injured in the gunfight yesterday and had to be evacuated to 92 Base Hospital of the Army for treatment. Two among them succumbed to injuries last night.
They were identified as Sepoy Ilayaraja P, a resident of Tamil Nadu, and Sepoy Gawai Sumedh Waman from Maharashtra.
Three HM militants were killed in an encounter with police and security forces at Awneera village of Zainapora Shopian.
Acting on a specific information, Shopian police along with 03 RR, 14 Bn and 177 Bn CRPF launched a cordon and search operation at Awneera village in the jurisdiction of Police Station Zainapora, Shopian. During the search operation, militants hiding in the area fired upon the joint search party. The fire was retaliated, ensuing an encounter.
Three HM militants were killed in the encounter. The slain militants were identified as Irfan-ul-Haq resident of Maldara Zainapora and Umar Majeed Mir resident of Kulgam. The identity of the third militant is being ascertained.
Arms and ammunition was recovered from the encounter site.
Five army personnel were injured during the encounter who were shifted to hospital for treatment. Among the injured, two army personnel succumbed to their injuries and achieved martyrdom.
The slain militants were involved in many anti national and unlawful activities.
Umer Majeed Mir was involved in grenade attack on security forces at Yaripora and many firing incidents including Yaripora and Kanjikullah. He was also involved in bank robbery case of PS Yaripora.
Irfan-ul-Haq was involved in many cases including grenade attacks and firing on security personnel. He along with this associates was involved in the killing of shopkeeper resident of Heff and Adv. Imtiyaz Ahmad Khan resident of Pinjora. He was involved in attack on guards of MLA Shopian and MLC Showkat Ahmad. He was also involved in firing on Bn Hqrs IRP 18th Bn Reshipora and on Army party at Moolu Chitragam.
At the time of withdrawal of the CASO party from the encounter site, the militants fired indiscriminately upon army vehicles in which one person namely Mohammad Syed of Shopian was injured. He was shifted to hospital for treatment.
The media persons who had gone to cover the encounter got stuck when the militants fired upon the CASO party when it was de-inducting. The media persons were evacuated in bullet proof vehicles of police.
Class work to remain suspended in Govt Degree College Ganderbal tomorrow
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The district administration Ganderbal has ordered the suspension of class work in Government Degree College Ganderbal for on 14 August , (Monday).
"The degree college Ganderbal will remain closed for any class work on 14 August," District Magistrate Ganderbal Dr Piyush Singhla told Greater Kashmir.
Class work suspended at Kashmir University tomorrow
Class work in all teaching departments of the Kashmir University will remain suspended on August 14, 2017.
A spokesman said that class work will remain suspended tomorrow, Monday.
“While all examinations scheduled for the day (August 14, 2017) are postponed” he said.
“Fresh dates for the deferred examinations shall be notified separately, later.”
Class work will remain suspended at the Islamic University of Science and Technology (IUST) Awantipora tomorrow.
“It is notified for the information of all the concerned that the class work shall remain suspended at Islamic University of Science and Technology, Awantipora on 14th of August, 2017,” said a spokesman.
Clashes erupted in Chadoora town of central Kashmir’s Budgam district on Sunday after news of death of Hizb Commander Mehmood Ghaznavi – a resident of Nagam area – reached here.
An eye witness said that youth took to streets and pelted forces deployed in the area with stones.
The forces responded by firing teargas shells, triggering clashes.
Operational Commander of Hizb ul Mujahideen Muhammad Yasin Yatoo alias Mehmood Ghaznavi was killed along with two associates in an overnight gunfight with forces in Awneera village of the district.
Yatoo was a resident of Nagam area of Chadoora in Budgam district and had joined militancy in 1997 after crossing over to other side of the Line of Control.
A youth was killed when security forces fired pellets and burst teargas shells to disperse demonstrators in Pulwama in south Kashmir, where three Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) militants, including an operational commander, were killed in an encounter in Shopian.
Two Army personnel were also killed and three others, including an officer injured in the encounter, which ensued since last evening and ended today.
Security forces resorted to lathicharge to disperse the demonstrators who were pelting stones at Kakpora in Pulwama today. The injured identified as Owais Ahamd, son of Mohammad Shari Dar was injured when he was hit by pellets. He was rushed to local hospital from where he was referred to Srinagar, official sources said adding the injured later died.

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