- 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.
Our surveillance device have been tracking them continuously which yielded results. Last evening we were able to spot the entire group of infiltrating terrorist towards the Indian side…in this way we laid the ambush in selected places. Based on the information we learnt that the terrorists are going to take a particular route. Our intention was to get the entire group and when they came over to the Indian side we engaged them and we killed 6 of them. However, the search operation is still under progress.
Prepaid Mobile Services Banned from 6 pm
Prepaid Mobile Services to be barred in Kashmir Valley from 6pm today till further orders.