Srinagar, June 23: Out of 51 militants killed in the first half of this year, 15 were killed after the imposition of Covid-19 related lockdown in Kashmir Valley. Before the enforcement of the lockdown in the last week of April this year, Joint Forces had managed to neutralize 36 militants in the first four months of the current year.
Director General of Police Dilbagh Singh recently maintained that operations against militants were affected to some extent due to lockdown related to Covid-19 pandemic.
The data available with news agency Kashmir News Trust reveals that 80 persons were killed in different militancy related incidents in the first six months of this year. These include 51 militants, 11 civilians 18 personnel from Joint Forces.
Out of the 18 casualties that Joint Forces suffered, 7 were soldiers, 3 CRPF personnel and 8 policemen. A soldier was killed in an IED blast in South Kashmir while 3 others died at LoC in Pakistan firing. A soldier Deepak Kumar from Haryana affiliated with 24 Rashtriya Rifles was killed in an IED blast in Subhanpora, Shamsipora area of South Kashmir’s Anantnag district on January 27.
Eleven civilians including 3 persons with political affiliations were killed by gunmen this year. These include two Councilors and a BJP leader.
Two Councillors Riyaz Pir and Shamsuddin were killed in Sopore attack while militants also shot dead BJP leader Rakesh Pandit in Tral.
Krishna Dhaba owner Akash Mehra was also shot dead by gunmen in February this year.
Most of the gunfights erupted this year in South Kashmir Shopian villages including Rawalpora, Manihal, Badigam, Wangam, Chitragam, Zeipora, Kanigam and Ganavpora. Gunfights also broke out in Srinagar, Mandora Tral, Peth Zanigam village of Budgam, Shalgul Srigufwara Tujjar Sopore, Kandipora Bijbehara, Kakapora Pulwama, Buchipora Budgam, Jablipora Bijbehara, Wagoora Nowgam, Gund Brath village of Sopore and Sheikhpora Vailo Kokarnag.
This year militants carried out two hit and run attacks-both in Kashmir capital Srinagar. Three CRPF personnel including an officer were killed in a hit and run attack in Lawaypora Srinagar while in a similar incident in Barzulla area of Srinagar city two policemen Muhammad Yousuf Bajad of Zurhama Kupwara and Constable Suhail Ahmad Lohar of Logripora Ashmuqam Anantnag were killed in February this year.
