Srinagar: Police on Wednesday said that the “hybrid terrorist” arrested in south Kashmir’s Shopian district allegedly involved in the killing of two migrant workers was killed “by firing of another terrorist”.
As per a police spokesman, the arrested “hybrid terrorist” Imran Bashir Ganai was killed in the fire at Nowgam Shopian.
“Based on disclosure of arrested hybrid #terrorist & in continuous raids by Police & security forces, another contact has been established between terrorists & SFs at Nowgam #Shopian, in which hybrid terrorist namely Imran Bashir Ganaie killed by firing of another terrorist, ” police said.
“Incriminating materials, arms & ammunition has been recovered from the hideout/site of contact. Search still going on. Further details shall follow,” it added.
Imran was arrested by police for his alleged involvement in the grenade attack in Harmen Shopian on the intervening night of October 17 and 18 which led to killing of two UP labourers.
Sharing details, police spokesperson said that during the course of investigation into the grenade attack, it was revealed that the grenade at the accommodation of the labourers was thrown by “hybrid terrorist” Imran Bashir Ganie of Hermain Shopian, who is linked with proscribed outfit LeT.
Ganie along-with his accomplice was promptly arrested within hours of the terror crime, police said, adding that raids were conducted on the basis of disclosures made by the accused (Ganie) about terrorists and their hideouts.
“In one of the raids on hideout at Dongri Nala near Landoora bridge, although contact was established with the hiding terrorists, but they managed to escape from the spot after initial fire,” spokesperson said.
He said following his disclosure another raid was conducted in Nowgam orchards of Shopian “where he (Ganie) had earlier met with other terrorists responsible in his recruitment in terror ranks, besides providing a grenade to him, an operation was launched in the said area in the midnight at about 0230hrs after the accused agreed to show the exact place of hideout in the orchards.”
During the search operation, “the hiding terrorists fired upon the joint search party, in which the arrested hybrid terrorist (Ganie) who was accompanying and leading the search party for identifying the place got injured. He was shifted to hospital where he was declared brought dead,” police spokesperson said.
He said “taking advantage of the darkness, terrorists managed to escape from the spot. Incriminating materials, arms & ammunition has been recovered from the spot. All the recovered materials have been taken into case records for further investigation.”
Meanwhile, several political parties, including the Peoples Democratic Party and the National Conference, on Wednesday called for a probe into the killing of an arrested “hybrid terrorist” during an anti-terror operation in Shopian district of south Kashmir.
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti said the killing of Kashmiri Pandits and labourers was condemnable “but the death of an accused by militants while he was in police custody has given rise to allegations that it was a part of the ‘catch and kill’ policy.”
Taking to Twitter, Mehbooba questioned the police claim that terrorists managed to kill Ganai while he was in custody. This “defies logic and deserves a thorough investigation,” she said.
“If militants can kill someone in the custody of police with such ease, it goes on to show what could be the fate of ordinary people,” she told reporters after a meeting at her party’s office here.
National Conference (NC) leader and Lok Sabha member from south Kashmir Hasnain Masoodi said the details given regarding the incident are “not only sketchy but leave many important questions unanswered”.
Masoodi demanded an independent and impartial probe into Ganai’s killing and said, “While civilian killings call for outright condemnation and cannot be condoned on any ground whatsoever, the killing of a young boy labelled a hybrid militant, in police custody is cause of grave concern and warrants open, independent and impartial probe.”
“The details given regarding the occurrence are not only sketchy but leave many important questions unanswered,” he said in a statement.
CPI(M) state secretary Ghulam Nabi Malik demanded a credible probe into the incident.
“It is widely perceived that the said person had not been involved in any unlawful activity,” he said.
