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Sopore encounter: Al-Badr chief’s killing a big success, says J&K Police
Terrorist outfit Al-Badr’s commander Ganie Khwaja was neutralised during an encounter in Sopore late on Tuesday night, informed Kashmir inspector general of police (IGP) Vijay Kumar, terming the militant chief’s elimination a big success
Terrorist outfit Al-Badr’s commander Ganie Khwaja was neutralised during an encounter in Sopore late on Tuesday night, informed Kashmir inspector general of police (IGP) Vijay Kumar, terming the militant chief’s elimination a big success.
The IGP said the Khwaja was gunned down during an operation launched at Tujjer Sharief on Tuesday night after receiving a specific input. This was achieved without any collateral damage, Kumar said.
“During the search operation, as the presence of militants was ascertained, they were given the opportunity to surrender, however, they fired indiscriminately upon the joint search party, which was retaliated, leading to an encounter,” a police spokesperson said, adding that one terrorist (Khwaja) was killed in the encounter and his body was retrieved from the site.
Police said Khwaja was involved in several terror cases including attacks on security forces and civilians, besides being the main recruiter.
“Dozens of cases have been registered against him in north Kashmir, which include grenade blast at Sopore bus stand in which 19 civilians sustained injuries on October 2019; rifle-grenade attack at Warpora police post which injured two cops in March 2019; attack on joint police/ CRPF party at Bismillah Colony, Sopore, in which four CRPF personnel got seriously injured and one among them, while being evacuated to hospital, succumbed to injuries; among several others.”
Police said he was also involved in providing arms and ammunition to overground workers of the terrorist outfit for carrying out subversive activities in the area.
“He was operating in the areas of north Kashmir, including Langate, upper/lower Qaziabad, Handwara, Sopore, Zainageer, Tujjar, Barahampora etc,” the spokesperson said.
Incriminating materials, including arms and ammunition, were recovered from the site of the encounter. “All the recovered materials have been taken into case records for further investigation and to probe his complicity in other terror crimes.”
IGP Vijay Kumar said, “He was a resident of Kralgund, Langate, and one of the old militants who went to Pakistan in 2002 and returned the same year. A few years ago, he became an active terrorist again.”
