Shopian encounter: One of the militants was a former cop

Kashmir, April 7: One of the two terrorists killed in an encounter at Shopian, Jammu and Kashmir was a former cop. The security forces have identified the two terrorists are Naseer Pandith and Wasim Malla. It may be recalled that Pandith was posted at the residence of PDP MLA Altaf Bukhari.

Pandith of the 11th battalion of the Jammu and Kashmir Armed police went missing from his posting last year. He had taken along with him two AK 47 rifles and two magazines from the guard room last night. He had joined the police force in 2007.

According to the investigations, he had joined the Hizbul Mujahideen Mujahideen. he was impressed with the leadership of Burhan Wani, the young commander of the outfit. Pandith had planned his escape from his posting.

Investigations had shown that a vehicle had been waiting outside the MLAs residence. There were three persons in that vehicle and all fled to the South of Kashmir where the Hizbul Mujahideen has a strong presence.

The Burhan Wani link:
Both the operatives killed today were close to Burhan Wani, the commander of the Hizbul Mujahideen who had made a splash on the social media. He had posted several pictures of his on the social media with guns and urged the youth to join him in the battle.

Wani had been giving specific calls to those in the security establishment to join them. The police feel many could have been radicalised to join Wani after he made that call. In the case of Pandith there was a major manhunt that had been launched since he went missing from his posting. Moreover he had escaped with weapons which belong to the state of Jammu and Kashmir.

OneIndia News