The police have said that the Hizbul Mujahideen militants killed in Thursday’s encounter in Shopian were close associates of the outfit’s tech-savvy commander Burhan Muzaffar Wani.
The slain duo has appeared with Wani in a couple of videos, released by the outfit on the social media.
Hizb militants, Adil Khanday, a resident of the Imam Sahib area in Shopian, and Irshad Ahmad Sheikh, a resident of Maldair village in Shopian, were killed in a brief gunfight with security forces in the Mazimpora area of Shopian district on Thursday.
Superintendent of Police (SP), Shopian, Altaf Khan said the slain militants were close associates of Burhan Wani, the most-wanted militant commander.
“Both of them have appeared with Wani in videos circulated on social media,” Khan said. “Their killing was a substantial blow to the outfit’s overall presence and activities in south Kashmir,” the SP added.
In a statement, the police said the slain duo was a part of many militancy-related activities in the region, including threatening people and attacks on panchayat members. The police have described them as category-A militants.
Adil Khanday, who worked as a driver at a local private school, had joined militant ranks two-and-a-half years ago.
Irshad Ahmad Sheikh was comparatively new to the outfit. After completing his masters in Arabic at the Islamic University of Science and Technology in March 2015, Irshad had left home in April to be a part of the Hizbul Mujahideen.
The funerals of the slain militants were today attended by hundreds of people at their native villages in Shopian.
Following the burial, clashes broke out in many parts of Shopian, including the Imam Sahib area, where a youth was injured after a tear smoke canister exploded in his hand. The youth, Javed Ahmad, a resident of Padgampora village in Pulwama district, was shifted to a Srinagar hospital and is said to be stable.
Anantnag remains peaceful
The situation in Anantnag district remained peaceful today amid restrictions. The authorities have decided to lift curbs from Saturday onwards.
Clashes first erupted on Sunday after trucker Zahid Rasool Bhat, who received burn injuries in a mob attack in Udhampur on October 9, died at Delhi’s Safderjung Hospital.
Amid clashes and a shutdown, the authorities imposed Section 144 of the CrPc in most parts of Anantnag. However, the last two days have been peaceful.
“In the wake of the improving situation, restrictions will hopefully be withdrawn from tomorrow onwards,” said Anantnag Deputy Commissioner Muneer-ul-Islam.
