First south Kashmir encounter since August 5, two militants killed

This was the fourth gunfight in two months since the communication blackout has hampered anti-militancy operations in the Valley.

In the first encounter between militants and security forces in south Kashmir since the abrogation of J&K’s special status on August 5, two local militants of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) were killed on Tuesday. This was the fourth gunfight in two months since the communication blackout has hampered anti-militancy operations in the Valley.

On Tuesday, a joint team of J&K Police and Army cordoned off Kawani village of Awantipora after specific inputs about the presence of militants. As the joint team zeroed in on the target area, the militants opened fire triggering a gun battle that lasted for several hours.

“We have killed two militants. A civilian was also injured,” a police officer said.

Police have identified the slain militants as Ufaid Farooq Lone (21) alias Abu Muslim and Abass Ahmad Bhat of LeT. While Lone, a resident of Awantipora, had joined militant ranks in July last year and was classified as category ‘C’ militant, Abass, a resident of Kawani village of Awantipora, was a recent recruit. Police have identified the injured civilian as Sabzar Bhat.

In the last two months, there have been four encounters between militants and security forces in Kashmir — one in south Kashmir (Tuesday), two in north Kashmir and one an ongoing gunfight in the upper reaches of central Kashmir’s Ganderbal. The total number of militants killed in the operations since August 5 is six, the lowest in a two-month period since the 2016 unrest.

An anti-militancy operation in central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district is going on for the last 12 days. On September 27, Army killed a militant during the operation in the mountainous terrain of Gangabal while another militant was killed three days later. On Monday, Army airdropped paratroopers in the area. The slain militants are believed to be part of a group which is believed to have recently infiltrated into the Valley from Gurez sector.

Bashaarat Masood

Bashaarat Masood is a Special Correspondent with The Indian Express. He has been covering Jammu and Kashmir, especially the conflict-ridden Kashmir valley, for two decades. Bashaarat joined The Indian Express after completing his Masters in Mass Communication and Journalism from the University in Kashmir. He has been writing on politics, conflict and development. Bashaarat was awarded with the Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Awards in 2012 for his stories on the Pathribal fake encounter. Expertise and Experience Two Decades of Frontline Reporting: Bashaarat has spent 20 years documenting the evolution of Kashmir, from high-intensity conflict and political shifts to socio-economic development. Award-Winning Investigative Journalism: He is a recipient of the prestigious Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Award (2012). This honor was bestowed for his reporting on the Pathribal fake encounter, a series of stories that highlighted his ability to handle sensitive human rights and security issues with investigative rigor. Specialized Beats: His authoritative coverage spans: Political Transitions: Tracking the shift from statehood to Union Territory, electoral dynamics, and the pulse of local governance. Security & Conflict: Providing nuanced reporting on counter-insurgency, civil liberties, and the impact of the conflict on the civilian population. Development: Documenting the infrastructure, healthcare, and educational landscape within the Valley. Academic Background: He holds a Masters in Mass Communication and Journalism from the University of Kashmir, providing him with a localized academic and professional foundation that is rare in regional reporting. ... Read More

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