In a major victory for the security forces, Hizbul Mujahideen commander Sabzar Ahmad Bhat, on Saturday, was killed along with another terrorist in an encounter at Tral area of Pulwama district in South Kashmir.
Sabzar Ahmad Bhat and one other terrorist were killed in the encounter in Soimoh area of Tral on Saturday morning, SP Vaid, Director General of Jammu & Kashmir Police was quoted as saying.
Sabzar Bhat is successor to Burhan Wani, who was killed in an encounter by the security forces on 8 July, 2016 in south Kashmir. Wani’s killing had sparked months-long protests in the Valley. After his death, the Hizbal had named Mehmood Gaznavi as the new commander for Kashmir. It could be noted that in 2015, Jammu & Kashmir police announced a cash reward on a group of terrorists that included Sabzar.
Security forces launched a cordon and search operation in Soimoh village of Tral following information about presence of Hizbul Mujahideen terrorists. The operation was launched after terrorists opened firing on an Army patrol in Tral area on Friday night.
Reports suggest that soon after the killings of the terrorists, stone-pelting and protests have started at several places in Pulwama, Khanabal and Anamtnag districts. The security forces are on the job to chase away the protestors.
According to intelligence estimate, 250 terrorists are currently active in Jammu & Kashmir. South Kashmir is turning into the hotbed of home-grown militancy with around 100 terrorists reportedly operate in the area.
Six other terrorists were killed in the Rampur sector of the Kathua district of the valley as the security forces foiled yet another infiltration bid.
According to a statement from Army’s Northern Command, the encounters were a result of “relentless operations” by security forces to “defeat desperate attempts by Pakistan and Pak-sponsored agents to spread terror in the state in the run up to the holy month of Ramzan”.
Relentless operations thwart desperate attempts by Pakistan to boost terror activities in Jammu and Kashmir. Statement attached. @adgpi pic.twitter.com/TShVCxlTmU
— NorthernComd.IA (@NorthernComd_IA) May 27, 2017
On Friday, the Army had killed two terrorists of Pakistan’s Border Action Team (BAT) in Uri sector following an attack on Indian Army’s patrolling team.
