Shopian operation ends, was delayed to avoid collateral damage: IGP Kashmir

Speaking to “Kashmir News Service”, he said, ” We delayed operation due to some reasons; First Militants made hostages five civilians. Second Militants kept changing houses Third our aim was to stop collateral damage in which we got success.He termed his killing a big success, “Killing of top Cmdr of JeM Vilayat Ahmad Lone @ Sajjad Afghani is a big relief for the parents and police as he has remained mastermind in the recruitment of new youths into Militant ranks.”

The top Jaish -e Muhammad commander was among the two militants killed in an encounter between security forces and militants in the Rawalpora area of the Shopian district on Monday, which started on Saturday.

A police official said that Sajad Afghani, JeM commander was among the two militants killed after an exchange of fire resumed today morning after a day’s lull at the encounter site in Rawalpora.

Meanwhile, IGP Kashmir, Vijay Kumar congratulated the forces for killing Sajad Afghani, a top JeM commander, in the encounter that broke out between militants and the security forces on Saturday evening.

An official said that a search operation in the area was launched on Friday and the encounter started on Saturday evening and was suspended due to darkness.  He said that the operation resumed on Sunday morning, in which a militant was killed.

He said that after the killing of the militant on Sunday, there was a lull and the operation again resumed today morning.

Meanwhile, as a precautionary measure, internet services were snapped in the district.
Meanwhile police Statement Apropos regarding encounter at Rawalpora area of Shopian informed that the encounter resumed in the wee hours after remaining suspended for the night hours.

“As the search operation was resumed, contact with the holed-up terrorists was again established and during the ensuing encounter one more terrorist was killed and his body was retrieved from the site of encounter. He has been identified as top JeM commander Vilayat Ahmad Lone alias Sajad Afghani resident of Shopian,.” It said.

“As per police records, the killed terrorist was active since 08/09/2018 and was part of a group involved in executing a series of attacks on policemen, SF and civilians. He was also involved in attacks on security establishments and brutal killings of civilians branding them as police/SF informers,.” It reads.

“Several terror crime cases were registered against him and was wanted by law for his complicity in several terror crime cases including Case FIR No. 304/2018 PS Shopian pertaining to terrorising the people so as to keep them away from Panchayat polls including blazing a Panchayat Ghar at Kanji-ullar. Case FIR No. 307/2018 PS Shopian pertaining to barging into the houses of police personnel, abducting and killing of SgCt Nisar Ahmad, Foll. Firdous Ahmad and SPO Kulwant Singh. Case FIR No. 343/2018 PS Shopian regarding attack on 34RR camp at Matribugh. Case FIR No. 362/2018 PS Shopian regarding abduction and killing of civilian Suhail Ahmad Ganai. Case FIR No. 35/2019 PS Shopian regarding killing of SPO Khusboo Jan and Case FIR No. 45/2019 PS Shopian regarding abduction and killing of civilian Tanveer Ahmad Dar.,” It added.

IGP Kashmir and GoC Victor Force conducted aerial monitoring of the operation and L&O situations at the encounter site. Both the officers have appreciated the Police and security forces for the big success and conducting operation successfully without any collateral damage, it said.

Incriminating materials including arms & ammunition were recovered from the site of the encounter. All these materials have been taken into case records for further investigation and to probe his complicity in other terror crimes, it reads.

“The last rites of the killed terrorists shall be performed after conducting their medico-legal formalities and their nearest family members shall be allowed to participate in their last rites. In this connection, a case under relevant sections of law has been registered and investigation has been initiated. People are requested to cooperate with police till the area is completely sanitized and cleared of all the explosive materials if any,” the police statement said.