Thirteen terrorists, including “top commanders”, were gunned down by security forces in Shopian and Anantnag districts, in three separate encounters on Sunday, 1 April. Three army jawans also lost their lives in the operations, said J&K DGP SP Vaid.
Members from J&K police, CRPF personnel, and army jawans had suffered injuries, he added.
Four civilians were also killed and more than 30 others were injured in clashes that broke out between protesters and security forces following the three separate encounters, reported PTI.
At a press conference, SP Vaid called it one of the biggest counter-offensives in recent times against terror groups operating in the Kashmir Valley.
Valley Witnesses a Complete Shutdown in Protest of the Killings
Following the encounters, the Valley observed a complete shutdown on Monday, 2 April.
According to witnesses, at least 20 protesters were injured as mobs threw rocks at security forces in Shopian, Kulgam and Anantnag districts of south Kashmir.
Police and paramilitary troopers fired pellets and tear gas to disperse the protesters.
In Srinagar, authorities imposed restrictions in parts of the city to maintain law and order as a separatist leaders had also called for a protest shutdown.
Authorities placed Hurriyat leaders Syed Ali Shah Geelani and Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and JKLF chairman Yaseen Malik under house arrest in Srinagar to prevent their participation in the protest.
Heavy contingents of police and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) were deployed in the restricted areas in Srinagar.
Markets, public transport and other businesses remained shut in the valley. All educational institutions were closed on Monday and exams scheduled for the day postponed.
Train services between north Kashmir's Baramulla town and Banihal town were suspended.
Mobile internet services remained suspended in south Kashmir areas while the speed of fixed line broadband connections was reduced drastically to prevent uploading of provocative posts and pictures.
Srinagar traders and manufacturers started a protest march from the city centre Lal Chowk shouting slogans against the unending cycle of violence in the Kashmir Valley.
Police intervened at Polo View area on Residency Road as traders tried to move towards the headquarters of UN Military Observers Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP) in Sonwar area.
The protest march was dispersed by police and some protesters were taken into preventive custody.
10 of 13 Militants Killed From Shopian
Ten of the 13 militants killed over the weekend in a major offensive by the state police were from Shopian, an indication that security personnel have tightened their hold on the south Kashmir terror bastion over the last five months, officials said.
Most of the 10 from Shopian, once considered the ground zero of terrorism, were young and had joined the militant movement between last year and now. Sources in the security establishment expressed the hope that parents of disappeared youth would now encourage their children to shun violence and surrender.
The oldest of the 10 was Ishfaq Ahmad Thoker, alias 'Abrar', who became a militant in September 2015, officials said.
The others, from various villages in the district, were Ubaid Shafi Malla alias 'Abu Huraira', who became a militant in February 2017, Zubair Ahmed Turrey alias 'Abu Bakar', Nazim Ahmad Dar alias 'Furqan Bhai' and Rayees Ahmad Thoker (May 2017), Yawar Itoo (July 2017), Adil Ahmed Thoker (November 2017), Ishfaq Ahmed Malik alias 'Umar Bhai' (January 2018), Aetimad Hussain Malik (November 2017) and Sameer Ahmed Lone (February 2018).
Director General of Police S P Vaid made a passionate appeal, asking youth to shun violence.
It is painful to all of us to see the loss of young lives. My appeal again to the parents of the boys, who have taken the wrong path... they should convince their wards to leave the path of violence and come home.Director General of Police S P Vaid
Considered a gateway to the Kashmir Valley for being strategically located on the way to the historical Mughal road, Shopian had nearly 30 active militants, including Saddam Paddar and Zeenat-ul-Islam who are rated A++ category militants and carry a cash reward on them. Both are still at large.
The area, south of the Peer Panjal mountain range, can provide free access to terrorists to cross over to Doda, Kishtawar and Poonch area of Jammu, the officials said.
"My appeal to the young people of Kashmir would be not to be carried away by Pakistan or their proxies and be led into the path of violence," said Lt Gen A K Bhatt, corps commander of the Srinagar-based XV corps.
"We will carry out operations as we have carried against anybody who will use his weapon," Bhatt had said on 1 April.
According to army officials, two were involved in the killing of Indian Army Lieutenant Ummer Fayaz.
AK Bhatt, GOC, Army's 15 Corps said that the death of Lt Ummer Fayaz had been avenged.
Excellent synergy has developed between the police, army, CRPF and the troops on ground. We had been looking for the terrorists who killed Lt Ummer Fayaz, today we neutralised them. All terrorists killed today were locals.AK Bhatt, GOC, Army’s 15 Corps
Encounter underway between security forces and terrorists in Kachdoora area of Shopian.
(Photo: ANI)
Acting on a specific intelligence input about the presence of militants in the Peth Dialgam area of Anantnag, security forces had launched a cordon and search operation in the area, a police official said.
Four Civilians Killed, More Than 30 Injured in Clashes After Encounters
Soon after the news of militants being killed spread in several parts of south Kashmir, clashes between the protesters and security forces broke out.
Protesters at Dragad and Kachdoora hurled stones at the security forces, who responded by opening firing, an official told PTI.
J&K police chief SP Vaid said it was unfortunate that the stone pelting around the encounter sites cost four civilian lives.
(With inputs from PTI and ANI)
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