Pulwama, Oct 13: A Hizbul Mujhaideen militant was killed in a gunfight at Babagund village in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district on Saturday. Another militant reportedly injured in the gunfight was admitted in a Srinagar hospital.
“Militants attacked an army Casper vehicle at around 1 am past night and fled from the spot. Soon after the attack, troops of 55 RR, CRPF and SOG laid a siege around the Babagund village and started door to door searches,” a police official told ‘Kashmir Images’.
He said “during searches, the militants hiding in the residential house of one Mohammad Shafi Hafiz, son of Abdul Gaffar Hafiz, fired at the government forces which triggered a gunfight in which one militant was killed and another escaped in injured condition.”
The militant killed during encounter was identified as Shabir Ahmad Dar alias Maali, son of Ghulam Mohammad Dar, resident of Samboora village in Pulwama district.
Shabir had joined militant ranks in 2016 and is survived by father, mother, two sisters and two brothers.
“Irfan Ahmad Dar, the elder brother of the slain militant was arrested three months back in a nocturnal raid at his house and was slapped with Public Safety Act (PSA) and shifted to Kathua jail,” said Malla Begum, mother of the slain militant.
“As soon as the body of the slain militant reached to his native village Samboora, thousands of people from adjacent village thronged there and participated in his funeral prayers,” locals said.
“As many as three rounds of funeral prayers were offered to the slain militant with thousands of men, women and children chanting pro-freedom and pro-Pakistan slogans” said an eyewitness.
Another witness said that a few militants appeared in the funeral of the slain militant and offered gun salutes to their fallen colleague.
“Another militant who was injured in the gunfight at Babagund village was shifted to SMHS Hospital in Srinagar for treatment by some unknown persons” said a police official.
The injured militant was identified as Showkat Ahmad Dar, son of Nazir Ahmad Dar, resident of Murran village of the Pulwama district.
The officer said that Showkat was admitted by some unknown persons who wrote his name as Bashir Ahmad in the hospital registry.
According to a doctor, Dar has received a bullet wound in his abdomen which severely damaged his internal organs. The doctor said his condition is very critical.
The police officer said they have taken cognizance and further action is being taken.
Meanwhile, in Pulwama district magistrate imposed restrictions under Section 144 CrPC in the town as announcement was made on loudspeakers by government forces on early Saturday morning.
All the exit and entry points were sealed with concertina wires by the government forces.
