Kashmir: Details of the Shopian and Sopore Encounters

On 4 August 2018 Security Forces killed 5 militants in an encounter in the Shopian district of J&K. Umar Malik an L-e-T commander was killed in the operation. Militant Naveed Jatt appeared at his funeral to pay a gun salute. The previous day on 3 August 2018 two militants were killed. One of them was a B-tech student.  Following is the full story on encounters that took place. 

On August 4, 2018,five militants and one civilian were killed in an encounter at Kilora village of south Kashmir’s Shopian district. 

 The encounterwas started on August 4, 2018,when 44 RashtriyaRifles (RR) and Special Officers Group (SOG) launched cordon and search operation at Kilora village working on a tip about the presence of the militants in the village. 

Reports said that one militant was killed in the initial of the encounter and four were killed next day. 

The slain militants were identified as Umar Nazir Malik, son of Nazir Ahmad, a resident of Killora Malikgund. Malik was active since April 5, 2017, affiliated with Hizbul Mujahideen(HM) militant outfit, Vaqar Sheikh, son of Mohammad Aslam, a resident Malikgund, active since July15, 2018, affiliated with Jaish e Mohammad(JEM) outfit.

Arshid Khan, son of Abdul Rashid Khan, a resident of Ganowpora Balpora Shopian, active since April 16, 2018. Aijaz Ahmad Paul, son of Abdul Rashid, a resident of LosdaneShopian, active since May 30, 2018, Arif Ahmad resident of YenedPahalgam.  

Soon after the recovering the dead bodies of the militants, the internet servicewas suspended in Shopian to maintain law and order situation. An official said that the internetwill be restored once the situationis normal.

One civilian was killed in the clashes with the forces at Ganowpora Shopian. 

An official said that civilian who got killed was identified as Bilal Ahmad Khan a resident of Pujoovillage of Kral Chuk got bullet injury in his chest after forces used live ammunition and pellets to disperse protestors.

Bilal was shifted to Shopian district hospital where doctors declared brought dead. More than thirty civilians were injured during the clashes.  

Funeral of Militants

Multiple rounds of the funeral prayers were offered to the four militants. As per the reports, thousands of mourners participated in funeral prayers of slain militants at Malikgund and Ganowpora and shouted Pro-Pakistani and Anti-Indian slogans. 

Reports said that at least ten militants came at the funeral prayers to pay the tribute and gun salute to the slain associates. Naveed Jatt was one among the ten militants. Jatt is one of the top commanders of Lashkar e Toiba(LeT) militant outfit.  

Naveed Jatt falls in the A+ category of the militants. On February 6, 2018, Naveed escaped from police custody when he was being taken for a medicalcheckup at Shri Maharaja Hari Singh Hospital (SMHS) Srinagar, Jatt was arrested in 2014 from a hideout in Sharmporavillage of Kulgam district. 

According to police sources Naveed Jatt alias Abu Hanzullah alias Munnu alias Chotu is son of Mohammad Hanief Jattresident of Sahiwala, Multan Punjab Pakistan.