In what can be said as Karma at play, a Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist, who was escaping from the custody of police in Pulwama, Jammu and Kashmir, was killed by the grenade which was thrown at the police to help him escape. A policeman was injured in the blast and the slain terrorist has been identified by cops as 24-year-old Mushtaq Chopan. Earlier in February, two cops were killed when Pakistani LeT terrorist Naveed Jati alias Abu Hanzullah escaped from the police custody when he had been brought to Srinagar’s SMHS hospital for a medical check-up.
Chopan was wearing a ‘burqa’ to escape and the police are investigating how the burqa made its way to the police station. Two women had met Chopan hours before the grenade attack, and the police are suspecting these women’s involvement in passing on the burqa. A Magisterial enquiry has been initiated under Sec 176 CrPC, while the Jammu Kashmir Police has launched its own enquiry to look into the lapse.
This incident reportedly caused intense clashes between crowds and security forces along the streets of Tral area. Police had to resort to tear gas to disperse the stone-pelting mob.
Last year, burqa-clad Hizbul terrorists had stormed Jammu and Kashmir Bank and looted Rs. 5.2 lakh at gunpoint, before making an escape.