Srinagar: Authorities have intensified crackdown in Kashmir as the total number of people detained in the past one week has crossed 900 mark following the recent surge in civilian killings in the Valley.
Among 900 people detained, sources told The Kashmir Walla, mostly have affiliation with the banned Jamaat-e-Islami, Tehreek-e-Hurriyat, stone-throwers or people on the suspected list of Over Ground Workers (OGW).
As The Kashmir Walla reported earlier till Saturday, around 70 youth have been detained in Srinagar – the capital city that witnessed six civilian killings in a week, 45 in Ganderbal, 46 in south Kashmir that include 40 youth belonging to Shopian only. Similarly, in Kralpora and its adjoining area in Budgam district around 20 to 30 people have been detained in the past one week. However, in the last two days more people have been detained or questioned.
The National Investigation Agency (NIA), who are part of the investigation into the murder of school principal Supinder Kour and teacher Deepak Chand, have summoned over 40 government teachers.
An official source said that the teachers that have been called for investigation include one each from Boys Middle School (BMS) Khoja Bagh, Middle School (MS) Khimber, BMS Peth Batpora, BMS Fisherman Colony, Boys Primary School (BPS) Shoor, BMS Handom Mohalla, MS Gnaia Mohalla Gulab Bagh, MPs Gasoo, BMS Doji Mohalla, Girls Higher Secondary School (GHSS) Shalimar, BHS Baghe Dedmari, BHS Zoonimar, GMS Nadiyar, Primary School (PS) Gandabal, PS Herpora Soiteng, BMS Soiteng, GMS Basant Bagh, BMS Athwajan and BMS Rajbagh; two each from BMS Dara Faqir Gujri, BMS Burzahama and 3 from Boys Higher Secondary School (BHSS) Nawa Kadal, GHSS Nawa Kadal, BHSS Sangam, BHS Bakhshipora, BHS Takunwaripora and Boys Higher Secondary School (BHSS) Palpora.
The teachers have been asked to liaise with DySP NIA Prabhat Bajpai. They have been directed to report at the NIA office in Church Lane, Srinagar, today at 4pm as they are required by the agency today also in connection with the investigation.
Militants on Thursday shot dead Kour and Chand in the Government boys school on the outskirts of the Srinagar city. The Resistance Front (TRF), a new militant outfit, which according to the police is an offshoot of the Lashkar-e-Toiba outfit, claimed responsibility for most of the attacks in the city.
According to an official handout, the NIA on Sunday conducted multiple raids in Jammu and Kashmir and arrested two operatives of The Resistance Front (TRF).
During the searches at Kulgam and Srinagar district, two TRF operatives arrested by the probe agency have been identified as Tawseef Ahmed Wani, a resident of Baramulla and Faiz Ahmed Khan, a resident of Anantnag.
“Investigation has revealed that Pakistan-based handlers of proscribed terror outfit LeT and their associates based in J&K had conspired to cause extensive terror activities for harming the public,” an official NIA handout reads.
Since 2 October, seven civilians, including four from the minority communities, have been killed in the valley, of which six of the killings took place in Srinagar district only.
Inspector General of Police Kashmir Vijay Kumar Singh on Monday said that Laskhar-e-Toiba (LeT) militant killed in Bandipora was involved in recent killing of sumo driver at Shahgund.
Taking on to official Twitter handler, Kashmir Zone Police quoting IGP wrote, “Killed militant has been identified as Imtiyaz Ahmad Dar affiliated with proscribed militant outfit LeT (TRF). He was involved in recent civilian killings at Shahgund Bandipora (sic).”
Four militant associates were arrested in Bandipora on Sunday who according to the police were part of Shahgund civilian killing. Police had said that the fifth one is at large and has joined the militancy.
According to the police, a total of 28 civilians have been killed by militants in 2021. Out of 28, five persons belong to local Hindu and Sikh communities and two persons are non-local Hindu labourers, while 21 are Muslims.
