SRINAGAR, Sept 17: Indian forces in occupied Kashmir said on Wednesday they had shot dead the deputy of a leading Mujahideen group commander whose killing last month set off a surge of violence.
Security forces overnight raided 12 houses in Srinagar and shot dead Nasir Mehmood Ahwan, who was deputy commander in India of the Jaish-i-Mohammad, a police statement said.
It claimed Ahwan served as the “right-hand man” of Gazi Baba, who was killed in a raid in Srinagar on Aug 30.
Police said Ahwan was from the Tehsil area of Attock in Pakistan and “was involved in about 20 killings of security force or police personnel” in occupied Kashmir.
Another 11 people were detained in the overnight raids and arms and ammunition were seized, police said.Five people were killed in other violence.
TWO SOLDIERS KILLED: Police sources said two soldiers from the Indian army’s counter-insurgency wing were killed overnight in an ambush by Mujahideen near Kangan township, 40 kilometres northeast of Srinagar.
The freedom fighters, armed with rifles and grenades, killed the two troops as the army patrolled Akhal village, a police source said.
Suspected Kashmiris also triggered a mine blast in Tral south of Srinagar in which one soldier died and two were injured. An army vehicle was damaged, police said.
In northern Kupwara district, Indian troops killed two Kashmiris in separate encounters, police said.—AFP
