Big victory for security forces

Most wanted LeT commander Abu Dujana killed in encounter

Srinagar: Abu Dujana, top Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) commander and a Pakistani national wanted in connection with many attacks on security forces, was on Tuesday gunned down along with his aide in an encounter in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pulwama district, the Army said. The counter-militancy operation was however met with some resistance as over 100 protesters pelted stones on security officials.

An Army official, giving details of the operation, said the security forces launched a search and cordon operation in Hakripora area of Pulwama on Monday night after receiving a tip-off about the presence of Abu Dujana and his local aide, Arif Lilhaari, in the area. Subsequently, a fierce encounter broke out between the militants and security forces earlier on Tuesday. During the gunbattle, both the militants were killed.

Who is Abu Dujana?
Abu Dujana alias Hafiz, believed to be the longest surviving foreign militant in Kashmir, was among the 12 most wanted militants active in Kashmir Valley. He was the key front of Lakshar in the valley and was know to have played instrumental roles in many attacks. The 27-year old militant carried a reward of 15lakh on his head and categorized A++ by the Army. He is believed to hail from the Gilgit-Baltistan region in Pakistan-administered Kashmir.

The operation has been called off even as the bodies of the slain militants have been recovered, the official said. Abu Dujana, who is a hardcore militant, was wanted in many militancy-related attacks on security forces and political workers primarily in south Kashmir.

Clashes in Pulwama
After the encounter, several protesters pelted stones at security forces near the encounter sit in Pulwama, in which at least one person was killed and several other were injured, police said. Although there was no official statement on the identity of the deceased, locals who had transported him to the hospital said his name was Firdous Ahmad.

In an official statement to the media, the police official said: “One person with fire arm injuries was brought dead at Pulwama district hospital.” The official also added that over 100 “miscreants” began pelting stones at security forces at the encounter site in Hakripora area of Pulwama.

Security forces resorted to tear smoke shells, pellets and a few live rounds to disperse the stone-pelting protesters. While the security forces were retreating after the encounter, few protesters pelted stones at them.

To this, the security forces responded by opening fire, resulting in injuries to two persons including a nurse working inside the hospital, the official said. There were several reports of protests breaking out from other parts of the city as well. Munir Khan, IG Kashmir, said that operations against terrorists will continue.

In a statement, Khan said: “Stone pelting or no pelting, disruptions or no disruptions, our operations will continue. In spite of our warnings and requests, people on behest of terrorists tend to come in between encounter, and that is how they get injured or killed.”

Internet services suspended
Meanwhile, internet services were suspended across Kashmir as a precautionary measure in the wake of clashes after the killing of Abu Dujana and his aide. Police said mobile Internet has been suspended across the Valley to prevent miscreants from resorting to unnecessary propaganda.

Mobile Internet services were suspended across platforms such as 2G, 3G and 4G. Even though broadband Internet services on landlines were functional, the speed has been choked to prevent uploading of videos and large images.