Highlights: Burhan Wani's successor Sabzar Bhat killed, authorities impose restrictions in parts of Kashmir Valley

Authorities to impose curfew in Kashmir Valley 

A curfew will be imposed in seven police station areas of Srinagar as a pre-emptive measure to prevent spread of violent protests which took place today, following killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Sabzar Ahmad Bhat in an encounter with security forces in Pulwama.

“Curfew will be imposed tomorrow in seven police station areas of Srinagar as a precautionary measure,” Farooq Lone, district magistrate, Srinagar told PTI. He said the curfew will be imposed in Khanyar, Kralkhud, Maharaj Gunj, Maisuma, Nowhatta, Rainawari and Safakadal.

Lone also said that educational institutions in Srinagar will remain close on Monday. 

PTI

Pakistan condemns killing of Hizbul militant in Kashmir 

Pakistan on Saturday condemned the killing of Sabzar Bhat and other militants in Jammu and Kashmir, and called upon the international community, including the UN and human rights organisations, to intervene in the matter.

Accusing India of carrying out “extra-judicial killings”, Foreign Affairs Advisor Sartaj Aziz said India killed “12 Kashmiri youth in Kashmir since yesterday (Friday) in Pulwama and Baramulla. Three of them were martyred extra-judicially as has been done on numerous occasions in the recent past.” 

IANS

Sabzar Bhat was top on the wanted list

Sabzar Ahmad Bhat, the Hizbul Mujahideen commander killed in a gunfight with security forces on Saturday in south Kashmir’s Tral, turned to militancy in April 2015 after the killing of Khalid Muzaffar, the younger brother of slain militant Burhan Wani. 

The killing of Muzaffar, who was a teenager, provoked Bhat, who lived in the same vicinity in Tral, to snatch a rifle from a CRPF jawan and he fled to the woods to join the militant ranks.

Soon after joining the Hizbul, Bhat was elevated to higher ranks and became part of Burhan Wani’s core group that was responsible for its operations in the Kashmir Valley. 

IANS

Hurriyat calls for two-day shutdown in Kashmir 

The Hurriyat Conference on Saturday called for a two-day valley wide shutdown following the killing of militant commander Sabzar Bhat, which triggered protests and one civilian was killed.

At least 35 people got injured in clashes in different areas of Kashmir Valley with five security personnel also receiving bullet injuries, officials said.

“Five security personnel have also been injured,” a police official said. 

IANS

Civilian dead in cross-firing

As soon as news about the gunfight spread to neighbouring villages, dozens of protesters marched to the site and pelted stones at the security forces.

A civilian was killed and over two dozen protesters were injured during the clashes in Tral. Police sources said that the third militant, a foreigner, took advantage of the tumult to escape.

Valley police chief Muneer Khan said the civilian died in cross firing between the holed up militants and the security forces.

A spontaneous shutdown was observed in all districts and major towns of the Valley and protests started in Anantnag, Shopian, Kulgam, Pulwama, Badgam, Ganderbal, Srinagar and Kupwara. 

IANS

10 militants killed in 24 hours in Army operation along LoC

The Indian Army on Saturday said its relentless operations to thwart attempts by Pakistan to boost terror activities in Kashmir have borne fruit, resulting to the deaths of ten militants since Friday. “Relentless operations by security forces have defeated desperate attempts by Pakistan and Pakistan-sponsored agents to spread terror in the state in the run up to the holy month of Ramzan,” said the defence spokesman of the Northern Command said.

To read more, click here

Kashmir shuts down following violent protests hit

A spontaneous shutdown was observed in the Kashmir Valley on Saturday, following violent protests in the wake of killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Sabzar Ahmad Bhat, even as a person was injured in Anantnag during clashes with security forces.

To read more, click here

Anti-India protests rise in Kashmir after rebel leader killed

Massive anti-India protests and clashes erupted in Kashmir on Saturday after government forces killed a prominent rebel commander and his associate in a gunbattle in the disputed region. As news of the rebel leader’s killing spread, thousands of people, including students, took to the streets shouting “Go India, go back” and “We want freedom.”

— AP

Hizbul Mujahideen operative remanded to judicial custody

Suspected Hizbul Mujahideen operative Naseer Ahmed was today remanded to 14-day judicial custody by a court. The CJM court sent Naseer, arrested by the Sashatra Seema Bal (SSB) from Sonauli on India-Nepal border earlier this month, to judicial remand, government counsel Raghuvansh Shukla said.

To read more, click here

How security forces pulled off encounter in Tral

Eleven months after Burhan Wani was killed, the Hizbul Mujahideen has suffered another major setback, with his successor, Sabzar Ahmed Bhat being gunned down in Pulwama on Saturday. Bhat’s killing will be seen as a big feat for counter-insurgency forces in the Kashmir Valley.

Friday evening onwards, security forces had launched a cordon and search operation in a cluster of villages around Tral, when a patrolling party came under fire near Saimu village around 9.15 pm. The army, along with the Kashmir police, laid siege around the village and cordoned off the entire stretch. However, there wasn’t any exchange of fire.

Read the full article here .

Shut down in parts of Kashmir

Shut down in many parts of Kashmir Valley following violent protests in the wake of killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Sabzar Ahmad Bhat — PTI

Clashes reported in Pulwama, Anantnag, Srinagar

Eyewitnesses said clashes between protesters and police broke out in Pulwama town, Anantnag, Seer Hamdaan village and downtown area of Lal Chowk in Srinagar. Students have also taken to streets in Anantnag town after the news of Bhat’s killing spread. A group of students resorted to stone-pelting and raised pro-freedom slogans in Anantnag Degree college.

Sabzar Bhat had called his family and asked for forgiveness

According to India Today , the encounter in which Sabzar Bhat was killed has been going on since Friday night after Hizbul Mujahideen militants ambushed an Army patrol party of 42 Rashtriya Rifles in Tral.

Bhat also reportedly made a phone call to his family members when he got injured and asked for forgiveness.

“Forgive me if I’m wrong. We have been cordoned,” the report quoted him as saying.

Clashes in Kashmir

Clashes have erupted across the four volatile districts of south Kashmir after the news broke that militant commander Sabzar Ahmad and his aid Faizan Ahmad have been killed in an encounter in Tral area.

(Editor’s note: Sameer Yasir is reporting from Tral.)

Bhat’s death is biggest setback to Hizbul Mujahideen since Burhan Wani’s killing

Two militants, Sabzar Ahmad Bhat, who succeeded Burhan Wani, and Faizain Bhat, have been killed and identified by villagers in Tral area of south Kashmir in Pulwama district.

This is the biggest set back to the Hizbul Mujahideen since an unrest began last year after the killing of Wani.
 
As the encounter raged on, dozens of villagers tried to march towards the encounter site but forces fired teargas shells and pellets to break up the protests in Rathsun village of Tral in south Kashmir’s Pulwama, hundreds of metres ahead of the site of the gun battle. Dozens of civilians were injured.
 
Three militants, who had on Friday night fired upon a patrolling party, were trapped after forces laid a siege around the village and cordoned off the entire area. However till morning no exchange of fire was reported.

Jammu and Kashmir Police calls Sabzar Bhat’s death a ‘major success’

Sabzar Bhat was among 8 terrorists killed today

Hizbul commander was among eight terrorists who were killed in separate encounters in Jammu and Kashmir.

One terrorist still holed up in Tral, encounter still on

ANI reports that a search operation by security forces is underway in Tral. Two terrorists are dead while one is still holed up, said an army statement.

CNN-News18 also reported that the encounter between the terrorists and security forces was still on.

Four AK rifles and one pistol was recovered from six terrorists killed by security forces, according to ANI.

Unknown person on audio tape had asked people in Kashmir to pelt stones at security forces

An unknown person on an audio tape recovered by CNN-News18 had asked Kashmiris to pelt stones at security forces after Sabzar Bhat’s death.

Stone-pelting reported in Kashmir

CNN-News18 reports that stone-pelting has now begun in five locations in Anantnag.