Slain militant Sajid Ahmad Gilkar played key role in lynching of DSP Mohammad Ayub Pandith, says J&K Police

Srinagar: Hizbul Mujahideen militant Sajid Ahmad Gilkar, who was killed in an encounter on Wednesday, had played a key role in the lynching of Jammu and Kashmir DSP Mohammad Ayub Pandith last month, police said. Pandith was stripped and stoned to death by a mob outside the historic Jamia Masjid in Nowhatta area of downtown Srinagar on 22 June. [caption id=“attachment_3805917” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Representational image. Getty Images[/caption] “Gilkar played a key role in the lynching of Pandith of the security wing,” a police spokesman said on Wednesday. Gilkar went underground and joined the Hizbul Mujahideen after the lynching incident, he said. “He was also involved in grenade attacks on the CRPF at Nowhatta on 22 April, Khanyar police party on 30 April and SafaKadal CRPF camp on 21 June,” the spokesman said. He said the slain militant was also involved in attacks on PDP worker Abdul Qayoom in Barzulla on 24 May and an army convoy near SKIMS Bemina 1 April. Gilkar and his associates Aaqib Gul and Javaid Ahmad Sheikh were killed in an overnight gunbattle with security forces in Redbugh area of Budgam district this morning. “They (slain militants) were involved in recent weapon snatching incidents in the south and central Kashmir. They were also involved in anti-national activities, unlawful activities, damaging of government property and stone pelting incidents,” the spokesman said.