Says, investigations into Amshipora encounter in “final stage”; Babar Qadri’s case to be cracked soon
Srinagar, Sept 28: Stating the Samboora gunfight in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district among the “successful operations”, Director General of Police (DGP) Dilbagh Singh on Monday said that joint security forces achieved a “big success” by killing one of the longest surviving militant commander of Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) outfit and his close aide. DGP also said that investigation into the case of Advocate Babar Qadri’s assassination has entered into the final stage and soon the case will be cracked.
DGP who was addressing press conference in District Police Lines (DPL) Awantipora of Pulwama district said joint security forces succeeded in neutralizing two militants in Samboora gunfight that erupted on Sunday late night.
“The anti-militancy operations in Samboora area of Pulwama district started yesterday and due to darkness, forces couldn’t continue searches in the area. However when searches were resumed today wee hours, two militant bodies were recovered from the spot among one was identified as Aijaz Ahmad Reshi, who was the longest surviving militant of LeT outfit”, DGP said.
“Aijaz Reshi was operating as Over Ground Worker (OGW) in 2015 and joined militancy before the killing of Burhan Wani”, DGP told media personnel.
Termed the slain militant Aijaz a “dangerous militant”, DGP Dilbagh Singh said that he carried out deadliest attacks on security forcers inflicting heavy casualties. “He took part in an attack at EDI Pampore in which eight CRPF personnel were killed. He had also ferried Lashkar men to the spot. At Kadlabal Pampore, he had fired at Army party killing three soldiers. He had took part in series of attacks on security forces”, Singh said.
He was the main recruiter for the Lashkar and had recruitment many youth especially Towseef Khanday, ,Rafiq Dar and Adil Ahmed, all slain Lashkar militants. “Aijaz was killed along with other local militant Sajad Ahmed Sofi who was recruitment by Aijaz and trained by him only”, the DGP said.
He said during searches, joint security forces recovered arms and ammunition besides incriminating material from the slain militants. “”Two AK-47 rifles, two magazines, some rounds and incriminating material was recovered from the slain militants”, DGP said. He, at the occasion, complimented 50 RR and 110 Battalion CRPF who were part of the operation at Samboora.
To a query about local militancy recruitment in south Kashmir parts, the DGP said that the graph has witnessed decline as compare to previous years. “Three youth were persuaded and brought back to their families during last 15 days, besides 24 youth shunned the path of militancy and returned to their homes after involving their parents”, he said.
Stating that the investigations in Amshipora Shopian encounter case has entered into final stage, Director General of Police (DGP) Dilbagh Singh said that the probe into the case has been accelerated after Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA) samples of three Rajouri youths were matched with their family members. He asserted that police have got vital clues of Babar Qadri’s assassination case which will be cracked soon.
He said the investigations into the killing of three Rajouri youth have been accelerated and monitored by a senior police officer, saying the probe has entered into the final stage.
“SSP Shopian is himself monitoring the investigation process of the case and very soon further details about the case will be shared”, DGP according to KNS said, adding investigations have entered into the final stage.
Police chief said that Army as well as Police are investigating the case and added the investigations on part of Army will get completed in next few days while as Police investigations is also going and at present we cannot share more details of the case.
Notably three families from Rajouri claimed that their sons were killed in a staged encounter in Amshipora area of south Kashmir’s Shopian district after which authorities ordered enquiry into the incident.
However, Army on September 18, said that the Shopian operation contravened the Dos and Don’ts of the Chief of Army Staff approved by the Supreme Court.
“The inquiry has brought out certain prima facie evidence indicating that during the operation, powers vested under the AFSPA 1990 were exceeded and the Do’s and Don’ts of Chief of Army Staff as approved by the Supreme Court have been contravened. Consequently, the competent disciplinary authority has directed to initiate disciplinary proceedings under the Army Act against those found prima-facie answerable”, Army in its statement said.
DGP, during a presser, said that Police have managed to get some vital clues about Babar Qadri’s assassination and soon the case will be cracked.
“We have already constituted Special Investigation Team (SIT) headed by SP rank officer who have succeeded in getting vital clues which will positively help us to crack the case soon”, DGP said. (KNS)
