Encounter in Rambagh: Three shot in Srinagar, police say militants

The killings sparked protests in Srinagar, with agitated residents shouting slogans and the youth throwing stones.

Security personnel on a patrol after an encounter with suspected militants near Rambagh, Srinagar. (PTI)

Ten days after a controversial “gunfight” at Hyderpora in Srinagar in which at least two civilians were killed, Jammu and Kashmir Police on Wednesday claimed to have killed three alleged militants following a brief shootout in the city.

The police said one of the militants killed was involved in the killing of civilians in Srinagar recently. While police said the three were killed in a “gunfight” at Rambagh in Srinagar, witnesses said they were dragged out of a car and shot. The killings sparked protests in Srinagar, with agitated residents shouting slogans and the youth throwing stones.

“Acting on our own specific inputs regarding movement of terrorists in Rambagh area of Srinagar, a small team from Srinagar police signalled a suspected Santro vehicle to stop,” police said in an official release. “However, the terrorists started firing indiscriminately on the police party from inside the car while trying to flee from the spot under the cover of fire.”

Police said they retaliated, leading to a gunfight. “Police have identified the militants killed as Mehran Yaseen Shalla of Srinagar and Manzoor Ahmad Mir and Arfat Ahmad Sheikh of Pulwama. They said the militants were affiliated to The Resistance Front (TRF), which police say is a shadow group of the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT).

Police said Mehran was involved in the killing of school principal and her colleague in Srinagar on October 7.

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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