JeM commander Sajjad Afghani among 3 terrorists killed in Shopian encounter

at 2:05 pm
Personnel of security forces at an encounter site in Kashmir (File pic)

Srinagar (NVI): Top Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) commander Sajjad Afghani is among the three terrorists who have been killed by security forces in a three-day operation in Rawalpora area of south Kashmir’s Shopian, police said today. Afghani and the third terrorist were eliminated today by the forces as the gunbattle came to an end.

After Sajjad Afghani was gunned down by security forces earlier today, contact was re-established with the third hiding terrorist around afternoon. The third ultra was also killed by the evening. He has been identified as Abdullah Bhai, a non local, according to CRPF.

Yesterday, the first terrorist affiliated to LeT, identified as Jahangir Ahmad Wani, was killed in the same area. He was active since November 2020, according to police according to Shopian police. He was resident of Rakh Narapora in Shopian.

JeM Commander Vilayat Ahmad Lone alias Sajjad Afghani, a resident of Shopian, was active since September 8, 2018 and 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.

Several terror crime cases were registered against him and was wanted by law for his complicity in several terror crime cases pertaining to terrorising people so as to keep them away from panchayat polls including blazing a Panchayat Ghar at Kanji-ullar.

In another case, he is accused of barging into the houses of police personnel, abducting and killing SgCt Nisar Ahmad, Foll. Firdous Ahmad and SPO Kulwant Singh. He also led an  attack 34RR camp at Matribugh. He was behind abduction and killing of civilian Suhail Ahmad Ganai. Another FIR stands registered against him as PS Shopian regarding killing of SPO Khusboo Jan and abduction and killing of civilian Tanveer Ahmad Dar.

Arms and ammunition, including 1 US made M4 rifle, 36 rounds, 1 AK-47 rifle were recovered from the site of the encounter today where the JeM commander was killed.

Four houses were damaged while five civilians and one policeman were injured in the Shopian encounter that began on the late evening of March 13.

IGP Kashmir Vijay Kumar congratulated Shopian police and security forces on the killing of JeM commander who was on security forces’ radar for a long time.

“IGP Kashmir congratulates Shopian police & SFs for eliminating JeM commander terrorist Sajjad Afghani in Shopian encounter,” Kashmir Zone Police tweeted.

“ShopianEncounterUpdate: 01 more unidentified terrorist killed (Total 02). Search going on. Further details shall follow,” Kashmir Zone Police tweeted earlier today.

 

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

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

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, Shopian Police said in a statement.

In this connection a case under relevant sections of law has been registered and investigation has been initiated, the police said.

A joint cordon and search operation was launched by Police, the Army’s 34 RR and the CRPF on late Saturday (March 13).

Police said during the search operation, the terrorists were given an opportunity to surrender, however, they fired indiscriminately upon the joint forces, which led to an encounter.

-RJV/ARK

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR