Video | Six militants killed in Shopian

Six militants were killed in a fierce gunfight which erupted between militants and goverment forces in Batagund area of south Kashmir’s Shopian district on Sunday during wee hours.

A senior Police official confirmed that six militants have been killed while earlier four militant bodies were recovered. The officer said two more bodies have been found.

Two soldiers were injured who were identified as Nazir Ahmad of 162 territorial army (TA) and Sepoy Sunil of 34 RR were immediately taken to military hospital for treatment. However, Nazir, a former Ikhwan commander of Check Ashmuji, Kulgam later succumbed to injuries.

The police officer identified the slain militants as Umar Majid Ganai alias Hanzullah son of Abdul Majid Ganie of Shuch Kulgam (Hizb commander), Waseem Wagay son of Abdul Hamid Wagay of Amshipora, Shopian (Hizb), Abbas Sheikh of Mantribug Shopian (Hizb) and Mushtaq Ahmad Mir of Chak-e-Choland (LeT commander), Khalid Farooq Malik of Alyalpora Shopian (Hizb) and sixth one is believed to be a foreigner.

While Umar and Mushtaq had joined Hizb and LeT in 2015 and 2014, Abbas and Waseem joined the militant ranks in 2016 and Khalid had joined the militant outfit in April this year.

Umar Majid Ganai had escaped a few months ago during a shootout in Batamaloo area of Srinagar that left an SOG man dead.

Pertinently, a picture of Umar Majid Ganie had gone viral on social media earlier this week which was reportedly taken by him near Ghanta Ghar, Lal Chowk, Srinagar.

However, police said that they are verifying the facts and said that the picture could be morphed or taken long back before going viral on social media.

Intense clashes erupted in Kapran area of Shopian following the killing of militants. Local sources said that youth took to streets in Batagund near the site of gunfight to disrupt the operation.

The forces, they said, responded by firing tear gas and pellets, triggering further clashes.

Meanwhile, as soon as the gunfight broke out, mobile internet service was suspended in parts of south Kashmir including Shopian and Kulgam districts.

Authorities have also suspended the train services to and fro south Kashmir while as there was also a spontaneous shutdown in Kulgam and Shopian. (With GNS Inputs)