Srinagar Apr 21 PTI Top Lashkar-e-Taiba LeT commander Yousuf Kantroo one of the longest surviving terrorists in the Valley was among three militants killed in Baramulla district on Thursday police said Kantroo was involved in the killings of several security forces personnel as well as civilians and was among the top 10 most wanted ultras in the Kashmir valley they said With Kantroos killing the security forces achieved a major success a police spokesman said He said acting on specific information about the presence of terrorists in the Malwah area of Baramulla in north Kashmir security forces launched a cordon and search operation there As the search party reached the suspected spot during the operation the hiding terrorists fired indiscriminately at them injuring four soldiers including one officer and a policeman the spokesman added In the ensuing encounter three terrorists of proscribed terror outfit LeT including dreaded terrorist commander Kantroo were killed and their bodies retrieved from the gunbattle site he said Kantroo earlier had joined as an OGW of HM Hizbul Mujahideen outfit and was arrested in 2005 He was released in 2008 but he again joined terrorist ranks in 2017 and started killing innocent civilians policemen and political workers Later on he switched from HM to LeT terror outfit the official said The identification of other slain ultras is being ascertained the spokesman said He said the injured policeman has been shifted to Armys base hospital in Srinagar As per police records the three were categorised terrorists and part of groups involved in several terror crime cases including attacks on policesecurity forces and civilian atrocities the spokesman said Kantroo was involved in dozens of civilian atrocities and security forces personnel killings including the killing of SPO Mohammad Ishfaq Dar and his brother Umer Ahmad Dar residents of Chatabugh Budgam in March this year He was also involved in the killing of BDC chairman Sardar Bhupinder Singh in September 2020 at Khag Budgam the spokesman said He Kantroo was also involved in the killings of NC Block president at Natipora Chanapora Srinagar Tajamul Mohidin Dar a resident of Guttapora Budgam in March Gulzar Ahmad of Lawaypora at Narbal Tanveer Zargar of Chewa at Narbal Nazir Ahmad Dar an employee of health department and resident of Warihama at Warihama sarpanch Manzoor Ahmad of Pattan the spokesman said Kantroo was also involved in grenade throwing incidents including the killing of CRPF personnel Riyaz Ahmad Rather a resident of Nawgam Anantnag at Kanihama in December 2017 abduction and killing of constable Mohammad Ashraf Rather alias Ishfaq a resident of Archanderhama Magam abduction and killing of Army personnel Mohammad Sameer Malla a resident of Lokipora Khag in March this year killing of SPO Mohammad Altaf during an encounter at Peth-Zanigam killing of ex-SPO Naseer Ahmad Khan a resident of Buchipora Kawoosa Khalisa he added He was also involved in snatching four AK rifles from the residence of former legislator Muzafar Parray Furthermore on his directions Abrar Nadeem neutralised terrorist carried out an attack on CRPF at Lawaypora Srinagar in which three CRPF personnel attained martyrdom in March last year the spokesman said The slain commander was also involved in recruiting innocentgullible youth into terror folds which included the recruitment of Faisal Hafeez Dar of Aaripanth Magam into terrorist ranks he said Incriminating material and arms and ammunition were recovered from the site of the encounter All the recovered materials have been taken into case records for further investigation the spokesman said He said two more terrorists are still inside the cordon and the exchange of firing was going on Further information will be shared accordingly the official added Inspector General of Police Kashmir Vijay Kumar congratulated the forces for conducting a successful anti-terrorist operation by eliminating the top most wanted terrorist Commenting on a video in which the mother of a trapped terrorist in mourning near the encounter site is heard saying come back my son you are too young and innocent these old cruel terrorists have deceived you they are pick-pocketers and goons who are enticing innocent and young boys the IGP Kashmir appealed to parents of other terrorists to ask their wards to shun the path of violence PTI SSB SSB AQS AQS

Srinagar Nov 19 PTI Bodies of Mohammad Altaf Bhat and Mudasir Gul two civilians killed in the Hyderpora encounter were laid to rest hours after they were exhumed here officials said on FridayThe bodies which were exhumed at Handwara after sundown on Thursday reached here around midnight they saidThe officials said emotional scenes were witnessed as soon as the bodies of Bhat and Gul reached Barzulla and Pirbagh respectively Men women and children waiting for the bodies broke down wailing over the mortal remains as they caught the last glimpse of the slain before they were laid to restAfter sometime the bodies were taken out in processions to the local graveyards amidst chanting of religious versesThe authorities had told the families to limit the gathering and bury them quickly the officials saidThey said the bodies were laid to rest at their ancestral graveyards in Barzulla and Pirbagh after funeral prayers were heldThis is for the first time since the outbreak of the Covid pandemic in March last year that the body of a person buried under police watch was returned to their kinThe exhumation came after tremendous pressure from the families as well as mainstream politicians including former chief ministers Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti and civil society groupsOn Thursday Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha ordered a magisterial inquiry into the encounter in which four persons were killed PTI SSB KJ KJ

Jammu and Kashmir authorities on Thursday exhumed bodies of Mohammad Altaf Bhat and Mudasir Gul, two civilians killed in the Hyderpora encounter, and handed them over to their families. The bodies were exhumed after sundown and were handed over to their families later in the night, who performed their last rites. This is the first […]

Jammu Nov 18 PTI Former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Ghulam Nabi Azad on Thursday demanded a judicial inquiry into the Hyderpora encounter in which police claimed to have killed two terrorists and two terror associates The administration on Thursday ordered a magisterial probe into the encounter amid protests by families of three of the four persons killed in the encounter claiming their relatives were innocent I demand a judicial inquiry into the Hyderpora encounter to find out how and why people were killed It is a case of police and not of the Army There should be an inquiry under a high court judge Azad told reporters in Kathua on Thursday He asked how can a police team probe allegations against the police themselves Azad said that while he respects the police and has been a great admirer of the Army and security forces there is need to ensure that such things do not happen especially in Srinagar city If such things take place in the capital then people will question what must be happening in the hinterland he added The Congress leader referred to the probe in the Shopian encounter last year and said the Army delivered justice in the case He said that during his time as chief minister justice was delivered to the families of three labourers killed in a fake encounter The accused police officers were in jail for the last 13 years Azad said It is time for police to provide justice he said Azad also condemned the incidents of targeted killings that shook Kashmir last month For 20 consecutive days 6-8 targeted killings took place here Its been 3 months and we do not know anything There should be a probe into this as well We should get into the details of who was behind this and arrest them said The magisterial probe into the Hyderpora killings was ordered amid protests by the family members of Mohammad Altaf Bhat the building owner Mudasir Gul a tenant and Amir Magray Guls office boy They have described the killings as cold-blooded murder They have demanded that the bodies of the deceased be handed over to them for the last rites All the four persons killed in the encounter were buried in the Handwara area of Kupwara district PTI AB AAR

Srinagar Nov 18 PTI Authorities on Thursday exhumed bodies of Mohammad Altaf Bhat and Mudasir Gul two civilians killed in the Hyderpora encounter for handing them over to their families officials said The bodies were exhumed after sundown and are likely to be handed over to their families later in the night they said This will be for the first time that the body of a person buried under police watch is returned to his kin since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in March last year The bodies accompanied by a police team are being moved to Srinagar from Handwara where they were initially buried the officials said PTI MIJ AQS AQS

Srinagar Nov 18 PTI The Jammu and Kashmir administration on Thursday ordered a magisterial probe into the Hyderpora encounter here in which police claimed to have killed two terrorists and two terror associatesA magisterial inquiry by officer of ADM rank has been ordered in Hyderpora encounter Govt will take suitable action as soon as report is submitted in a time-bound manner JK admin reiterates commitment of protecting lives of innocent civilians it will ensure there is no injustice Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha said in a tweetThe magisterial probe was ordered amidst protests by the family members of three of the four persons killed in the encounter on MondayThe family members of Mohammad Altaf Bhat the building owner Mudasir Gul a tenant and Amir Magray Guls office boy have been protesting against the killings which they have described as cold-blooded murderThey have demanded that the bodies of the deceased be handed over to them for the last ritesAll the four persons killed in the encounter were buried in the Handwara area of Kupwara district PTI MIJ RC

Srinagar : Kin of a terrorist killed in an encounter at Srinagar, said that he was used as a ‘human shield’ and has no links with the militant group. A civilian was also killed in the encounter that took place late Monday. On Monday night the family of the civilian named Mohammad Altaf, staged protests demanding his body to be handed over. For the last two years, police in Kashmir do not hand over the bodies of militants killed in encounters to the family for last rites citing their funerals create a law and order situation.

Srinagar : Kin of a terrorist killed in an encounter at Srinagar, said that he was used as a ‘human shield’ and has no links with the militant group. A civilian was also killed in the encounter that took place late Monday. On Monday night the family of the civilian named Mohammad Altaf, staged protests demanding his body to be handed over. For the last two years, police in Kashmir do not hand over the bodies of militants killed in encounters to the family for last rites citing their funerals create a law and order situation.