Police officer, militant of Zakir Musa group killed in Srinagar encounter

The slain militant was identified as Mugees Ahmad Mir alias Khatib of Ansar Ghazwat ul Hind, an Al Qaeda Kashmir cell headed by former Hizb militant Zakir Musa.

SRINAGAR: A police officer and a militant of Zakir Musa’s Alqaeda-affiliated group were killed and a militant arrested during an encounter in outskirt of Srinagar on Friday.

A police officer said police and paramilitary CRPF men launched a combing and search operation in Zakura area in outskirts of Srinagar, 14 kms from city centre Lal Chowk, this evening after receiving inputs about presence of militants there.

He said while the combing operation was going on, the security personnel came under fire from the militants.

“The fire was returned by the troops and in the brief encounter, a police sub-inspector Imran Tak and a Special Police Officer (SPO) were injured. A militant was also captured during the operation,” the police official said.

He said the injured policemen were hospitalised, where critically injured sub-inspector Imran succumbed to injuries.

The official said a militant escaped during the encounter.

“However, the security personnel chased him and he was killed in the brief encounter,” he said.

The slain militant was identified as Mugees Ahmad Mir alias Khatib of Ansar Ghazwat ul Hind, an Al Qaeda Kashmir cell headed by former Hizb militant Zakir Musa.

The slain militant belonged to Parimpora area of Srinagar.

His body reached his native place in the evening and large number of people including men and women gathered at his residence.

Mugees father of three-month-old baby, according to police, had joined militancy a year back.

He is the third militant from Srinagar to be killed in encounter with security forces this year.

Sources said police is questioning the arrested militant who has been identified as Tauseef Ahmad, a resident of Parimpora area of Srinagar.

Meanwhile, Deputy Commissioner Srinagar, Syed Abid Rasheed Shah, said complete restrictions would be imposed within the territorial jurisdictions of 6 police stations of Srinagar tomorrow.

He said restrictions would be imposed in Parimpora, Khanyar, Nowhatta, Safakadal, MR Gunj and Rainawari areas of Srinagar tomorrow.

“There will also be partial restrictions in Maisuma and Kralkhud police stations of Srinagar,” Shah said.

The restrictions would be imposed in view of apprehension of law and order problem in Srinagar following killing of a local militant in encounter today.

The DC also ordered closure of all schools and colleges in Srinagar tomorrow.

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