(Updating earlier copy)
Abid Bashir
Jammu (NVI): Jammu and Kashmir police today said that the terrorist killed in the Doda gunfight in Jammu region has been identified as wanted Hizbul Mujahideen Commander Tahir Ahmed Bhat of South Kashmir’s Pulwama district.
The police said that the slain militant commander was a close aide of Hizbul top commander Dr Saifullah, and had been sent to Doda district of Jammu to revive militancy.
A soldier was also killed in the encounter that broke out in the dense forest area of Doda early this morning.
A detailed statement issued by the Jammu police said that late last night, information was received regarding the presence of Hizbul commander Tahir Ahmed Bhat of Pulwama in the Khotra village in district Doda.
“An operation was launched and the village was cordoned by early morning by the forces of Police, Army, CRPF and SSB. During the search, militant hiding in a house opened indiscriminate fire on the Police /Army,” the statement said.
It said that in the ensuing gunfight, Tahir was killed and an AK 47 Rifle and magazine have been recovered. “Tahir had joined Hizb early last year (2019). His name had figured in the fabrication of IED which was exploded near a CRPF convoy at Banihal in March 2019. He had subsequently visited Chenab Valley and was given the task of recruiting youth and reviving HM activities in the Chenab valley,” the statement read.
He was also a part of a group of Hizbul terrorists who killed RSS activist Chanderkant Sharma and his PSO in April 2019.
“The same AK 47 Rifle which was taken away from the slain PSO of Sharma was recovered at the encounter site today,” the statement said. “With this operation, an attempt of Hiz to revive activities in Doda has been nipped. The designs of the HM to target forces convoy and camps has also been thwarted.”
Tahir was a close associate of present Operational Commander of Hizbul outfit Saifullah alias Dr Saif, who took over the outfit chief after the killing of Reyaz Naikoo. Police said slain Tahir was assigned the task of revival of militancy in Chenab Valley by recruiting more youth from there, as the Chenab valley had got rid of militancy in late 1990’s.
“The slain militant was directed by his mentors to target the security forces and carry out some sensitive and sensational attacks in Chenab Valley to create insecurity among the people and to disturb the peaceful atmosphere,” the police statement said.
Meanwhile, a search operation is still on in the Doda as police had earlier received inputs about the presence of two more terrorists in the area.
