Abid Bashir
Srinagar (NVI): A Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been constituted to probe advocate Babar Qadri’s killing in Srinagar, Inspector General of Police, Kashmir, Vijay Kumar said today.
Addressing a press conference at Police Control Room (PCR) Srinagar, the IGP said that advocate Babar Qadri’s killing took place at 6:20 pm yesterday when two masked men entered into his Hawal, Srinagar residence as clients with files in their hands.
“They told Qadri that they had to discuss some accident-related case but fired at this head with pistols. Qadri sustained four bullet wounds in his head and died on the way to hospital,” he said.
While fleeing, IGP Kashmir said, militants fired a few bullets in the air. “We have constituted an SIT headed by an SP rank officer that will probe the killing of Qadri and the outfit involved in the act,” he said.
He also said that two Lashkar-e-Toiba commanders including a foreigner were killed in Sirhama, Anantnag encounter this morning of which one local commander was involved in the killing of two cops at Nowgam, Srinagar on August 14.
Kumar said that in Sirhama, Anantnag gunfight, two top Lashkar commanders were killed. “One of the slain has been identified as Abu Rehan from Pakistan, who was active since March 2019 and the second one has been identified as Adil Bhat, who was also Lashkar commander. Adil was involved in the attack on two policemen at Nowgam on August 14,” he said.
On Block Development Chairman Khag, Budgam, Bhupinder Singh’s killing, the IGP said that after touring his area along with two PSOs, Singh had left for his home and allowed his PSOs to relax. “Militants were probably knowing about his movement and they shot him dead outside his house. We have suspended the two PSOs. And prima facie, the names of two Lashkar militants have come to fore—Yousuf Kandroo and Abrar. We will soon catch them,” the IGP said.
Regarding the killing of a CRPF man at Wadipora, Budgam yesterday, the IGP Kumar said the attack was carried out by the Jaish-e-Mahammad outfit as cartridges of M-4 were found at the site of incident. “M-4 is usually carried by JeM militants,” he said.
Asked about the number of active militants, the IGP said that 170 to 200 militants are active in Kashmir of which 40 are foreigners whom police knows by name.
-ARK
