Kashmir erupts after security forces gun down LeT commander Abu Dujana in Pulwama

[caption id=“attachment_3885457” align=“alignleft” width=“940”] Security forces on Tuesday gunned down Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) commander Abu Dujana in an encounter in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district. Firstpost/Shah Hilal[/caption] [caption id=“attachment_3885465” align=“alignleft” width=“940”] Dujana was trapped by security forces when he visited his wife in Pulwama. LeT terrorist Arif Lilhaari was also killed in the encounter. Firstpost/Shah Hilal[/caption] [caption id=“attachment_3885469” align=“alignleft” width=“940”] Acting on specific intelligence input about the presence of militants in Hakripora village of Pulwama, Jammu and Kashmir Police and Rashtriya Rifles launched a cordon and search operation in the area. Firstpost/Shah Hilal[/caption] [caption id=“attachment_3885483” align=“alignleft” width=“940”] During the operation, terrorists opened fire, prompting retaliation from the forces, which triggered a gunbattle. Firstpost/Shah Hilal[/caption] [caption id=“attachment_3885485” align=“alignleft” width=“940”] Dujana was said to be the mastermind behind the Pampore terror attack that killed at least eight CRPF men last year and the 2015 attack on a BSF convoy in Udhampur, in which two personnel were killed. He was was among the most wanted militants in Kashmir. Firstpost/Shah Hilal[/caption] [caption id=“attachment_3885489” align=“alignleft” width=“940”] Dujana is the third militant to be killed by security forces in the last one year, after Burhan Wani and Shabzar Bhatt. Police officials said that Dujana was the longest surviving militant in the Valley, and killing him would count as a huge victory. Firstpost/Shah Hilal[/caption] [caption id="" align=“alignnone” width=“940”]  Several locals, however, indulged in stone-pelting, to disrupt encounter operations. Two civilians were killed and at least half a dozen were injured in retaliatory firing. Firstpost/Suhail Bhat[/caption] [caption id="" align=“alignnone” width=“940”]  After the militant leader was killed, chaos enveloped Lal Chowk in Srinagar as students protested at the city centre. Firstpost/Suhail Bhat[/caption] [caption id="" align=“alignnone” width=“940”]  In the Hakripora area of southern Pulwama district where the encounter had taken place, one protestor was killed while 40 others were injured. Firstpost/Suhail Bhat[/caption] [caption id=“attachment_3882569” align=“alignnone” width=“940”]  The police also arrested students and announced a complete shutdown in the Valley. PTI[/caption] [caption id="" align=“alignnone” width=“940”]  For the first time in recent history, such a large proportion of Kashmir’s student community initiated protests following the killing of a foreign militant (Dujana). Firstpost/Suhail Bhat[/caption] [caption id=“attachment_3882611” align=“alignnone” width=“940”]  At Lilahar town in Pulwama, villagers were seen shouting slogans during funeral prayers for Arif Nabi Dar. PTI[/caption]