Year 2020 witness 345 killings in J&K

 

Srinagar: The year 2020 in Jammu and Kashmir ended on a violent note when suspected militants shot at a Jeweller in the heart of Srinagar city on the last day of the year. This year the erstwhile State witnessed 345 killings. Besides these 345 killings, two army porters, and four Joint Forces personnel were also killed in two different fratricidal incidents in Central and South Kashmir.

Joint Forces managed to inflict heavy damages on militants killing several top commanders including Hizbul Mujhadeen Operational Commander Riyaz Nakiko, Dr Saifullah, Junaid Sehrai, Burhan Koka and others.

In the ongoing year, Jammu and Kashmir witnessed 90 gunfights between militants and Joint Forces. Besides, militants carried out attacks in different parts of Kashmir.

Among 90 gunfights, 77 rage in Kashmir Valley. Among 345 killings, 216 were militants, 46 soldiers, 11 policemen, 19 Para-military troopers, 5 BSF personnel and 48 civilians.

Two gunfights including one in Amshipora Shopian and another in Hokarsar Srinagar were controversial in nature.

At least 17 militants and 3 soldiers were killed in 9 gunfights in different parts of Jammu region as well. The areas that fall under the jurisdiction of Jammu region and witnessed gunfights this year included Khari-Taharat and Nowshera areas of Rajouri, Doda, Dachan Kishtwar and Nagrota. Seven militants were alone killed in twin gunfights of Nagrota Jammu.

At least 3 BJP workers were shot dead by militants this year. Besides, a BDC Chairman was also killed in suspected militant attack in Central Kashmir’s Budgam district.

Some hamlets in Kashmir Valley witnessed more than one gunfight. These include Zantral Khrew, Meej Pampore and Melhora and Pinjora in Shopian. Among 10 district of Kashmir Valley, Ganderbal in Central Kashmir witnessed no gunfight at all, though militants in this district carried out few attacks. South Kashmir’s Pulwama district witnessed large number of gunfights. These gunfights in the district rage in Charsoo, Gulshanpora Tral, Kuchalman Tral, Chewlora Tral, Machohoma Tral, Saimoh Tral, Zantral Khrew, Hari Pari Awantipora, Kangan, Goripora Barsoo, Dangarpora, Meej, Bandzoo, Gusso, Kamrazpora, Zadora, Samboora Pampore, Dadoora, Hakripora Kakapora, Noorpora Awantipora, Begpora, Shar Shali Khrew, and Tikan village.

The data reveals that militants and Joint Forces engaged in 8 gunfights in Kashmir capital Srinagar. The areas where these gunfights took place included Lawaypora, Zoonimar, Malabagh, Batamaloo, Barzulla, Pantha Chowk, Kani Mazar Nawakadal, Hokarsar and Rangreith,

The areas in Budgam that witnessed gunfights in the ongoing year included Behrampora Chadoora, Nawhar Charar-e-Sharif and Aribagh Mochwa. In Baramulla district of North Kashmir these areas include Shatlu Rafiabad, Armpora Sopore, Hardshiva Sopore, Reban Sopore, Naugam Sector, Nowan Kreeri and Yedipora Pattan. Keran, Chang Mohalla Handwara, Ganawpora Kralgund Handwara and Machil areas in frontier district Kupwara witnessed gunfights.

Militancy infested South Kashmir’s Shopian also witnessed gunfights in Wachi, Reban,Keegam, Melhora, Turkawangam, Mool Chitragam, Kilora, Sugan, Chakoora and Kutpora villages. Another district of South Kashmir’s Kulgam witnessed only 5 encounters while in Anantnag encounters rage in Bijbehara, Sirhama Bijbehara, Arwani Bijbehara, Sangam Bijbehara, Kharpora Bijbehara, Wanghama Bijbehara, Watargam, Ronipora, Reban, Pinjora and Larnu Kokernag.

June this year was the bloodiest month in Kashmir. Joint Forces managed to neutralize 47 militants in this month. A Para-military trooper was also killed in June in Bandzoo village of South Kashmir’s Pulwama district.

Some of the top militants who were killed this year included Hizbul Mujhadeen Operational Commander Reyaz Naiko, Junaid Sehrai, Dr Saifullah, Sajad Nawabi, Asif Dar, Ansar Ghazwatul Hind Commander Burhan Koka, Tahir Bhat, IED expert Ikram alias Faujibhai, Zubair Wani, Waleed and Jaish Kashmir Chief Qari Yasir.

Meanwhile, Jammu Kashmir Police in a statement said that despite being massively engaged with COVID-19 situation, J&K police along with other security forces conducted various successful operation in which 225 militants (207 in Kashmir Zone, 18 in Jammu Zone) killed including foreign militants and top commanders of almost all militant outfits. During the period 299 militants/associates were arrested and 12 militants surrendered.

Police said that 635 OGWs were arrested this year while 56 booked under Public Safety Act.

“About 426 weapons, and over nine thousand ammunition/ magazines, huge cache of explosive material were recovered/seized during the operations.”

Police said that in the process 16 (15 in Kashmir Zone and 01 in Jammu Zone) brave J&K Police personnel and 44 (42 in Kashmir Zone and 02 in Jammu Zone) Jawans of other security forces were killed while fighting militancy. “The best thing is that trend of local youth joining militant group is constantly decreasing,”

It said that while maintain law and order 255 stone pelting incidents were reported as compared to 2009 incidents in 2019 thus witnessing 87.31% decline. (KNT)