Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir police on Tuesday said that the militancy in South Kashmir was almost wiped out, saying that three more militants were killed in a clean operation today at Shopian district.
Briefing the press on Tuesday at Police Control room (PCR), Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kashmir, Vijay Kumar said that three militants affiliated with Hibz-ul-Mujhaideen were killed in the gunfight today at Turkuwangan village of Shopian district.
The IGP, who was accompanied by two more officers from the army and Central Reserve Police Force, further stated that the militancy in southern Kashmir has almost come to an end while the focus will be shifted to northern Kashmir from next month. “The active militants in Kashmir are not running short of ammunition. We have recovered almost 25 AK weapons this year so far,” he said.
“It was a clean operation. No collateral damage has taken place. The operation was launched after Srinagar police received inputs about the presence of militants there,” he said, reported a local news agency, Kashmir News Observer (KNO). He further added that three militants were killed in the operation, and any family who claims them are requested to identify them and the burial as per procedure will be done at Baramulla.
Asked about the audio clip wherein a youth who joined militant ranks claimed that he was forced to pick up guns, the IGP stated that the youth had a Jamaat background and the allegations leveled by him were investigated and were found baseless.
About Sarpanch who was killed in South Kashmir recently, the IGP said that the Hizb was involved in the act, saying that eye-witnesses have confirmed that two militants identified as Umar and another was involved in his killing while forensic report is awaiting and will be shared accordingly.
In Bomai, he said that a woman Sarpanch was kidnapped by militants who also captured her video, adding that a militant identified as Waleed and a local are involved in the act. “We have safely evacuated the woman and her husband who is Panch to a safer place and will be given protection,” he said, adding that those having threat will be given security cover.
Asked about the recent narco-module that was busted in Kupwara, the IGP said that the module is big and they are expecting more arrests soon. “The module has already distributed Rs 3.5 Crores among the militants. Investigation is going and many arrests are expected soon,” he said, adding that the kingpin among the four have been arrested so far and they have also sold narco material in Amristar worth Rs 5 Crore out of which 3.5 Crore have been distributed among militants.
He said drugs are the main source of funding for militancy, saying that the drugs are being sold in different parts of the country. “These drugs reach Kashmir through associates and we have been successful in busting many of such modules,” he said. (KNO)
