Srinagar, May 10: A militant reportedly affiliated with the Islamic State was killed Friday in an encounter with security forces in south Kashmir’s Shopian district, police said.
Acting on a credible input about the presence of militants, forces had launched a cordon and search operation at Ramnagri in Herpora area of the district, a police spokesman said.
“During the operation, the hiding militants fired on the search party. It was retaliated leading to a brief exchange of fire,” the spokesman said.
He said one militant was killed who was identified as Ishfaq Ahmad Sofi alias Umar, son of Mushtaq Ahmad, a resident of Model Town-B in Sopore area of Baramulla district.
“Ishfaq, as per the police records, was a trusted over-ground worker of many organisations including Lashkar-i-Toiba and Jamait-ul-Mujahideen since 2004. He was arrested many times in militancy-related cases, and jailed. But soon after his release in June 2018, he got recycled into militancy and joined Islamic State militant group and moved towards south Kashmir where he was involved in planning and executing attacks. He was also involved in attacks on security establishments and many other civilian atrocities,” a police spokesman said.
Spokesman said the slain militants was also involved in Safa Kadal and Soura grenade attacks. “He along with his associates were involved in series of crimes including grenade attacks on CRPF bunker at Safa Kadal, Soura and Police Station Khanyar. He was also part of groups which had carried out attacks on security establishments in the area,” said the spokesman.
