Key TRF commander killed in J&K

NT Correspondent

Srinagar: In a major success for security forces in the valley, three militants including a top commander were killed during a brief shootout between militants and security forces in Srinagar on Wednesday evening, J&K Police said.

Police officials said that the slain militants were affiliated with The Resistance Front (TRF) militant outfit and one among the slain was involved in the recent militant attacks in the city. The TRF is a shadow group of Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT), according to the police.

According to a J&K police spokesman, a “gunfight” ensued after a police team signaled a suspected vehicle to stop at the Rambagh locality.

“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 firing. The fire was however effectively retaliated leading to a gunfight,” the spokesman said in a statement, adding that three militants were killed in the encounter.

The three militants were identified as Mehran Yaseen Shall, a resident of Srinagar, and Manzoor Ahmad Mir and Arafat Ahmad, both residents of South Kashmir’s Pulwama.

Police said that Mehran was “wanted by law for his involvement in several terror crime cases”. Among the cases, police said also include the killing of J&K Police Sub Inspector Arshid Ahmad Mir and also the killing of the school principal and a teacher in October in Srinagar.

Srinagar recently witnessed a series of militant attacks, prompting heightened security measures across the city.

A senior police officer termed Mehran’s killing as a major success. “We are hopeful that his killing will now reduce the (militant) activities in the city,” the official told NewsTrail.

Sources in the security establishment maintain that Mehran’s name had even popped up during the recent security review meeting which was chaired by Union Home Minister Amit Shah when he was in Valley. According to sources, when the top officials were asked about the targeted killings in the valley, they named Mehran. Sources further said the Home Minister had directed officials to take steps to eliminate the top commander.

At the Rambagh locality on Wednesday evening, a group of locals also staged a protest and shouted slogans against the J&K Police. A brief stone-throwing incident also took place in the area.

An eyewitness said that the slain men didn’t retaliate after police firing. “Kashmir Police came and fired indiscriminately at three boys. They(slain) had no weapons as well,” said a woman.