JeM Chief among two militants killed: Police

Srinagar: Police on Monday claimed to have killed Chief Commander of Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) along with his associate in a brief encounter on Dal Banks near foreshore road on Thursday.  Addressing a press Conference, S.M. Sahai, inspector general of police (IGP) Kashmir zone, said theJeM chief and his guard were moving on Dal Lake Foreshore Road when the Maruti car (without registration number) was intercepted by police. “The duo opened indiscriminate firing, triggering a gunfight that ended after the two people were killed,” he said.The city police chief identified the slain as Chief Commander of JeM, Sajad Afgani alias Qari Hamaad and his associate Umeer Bilal.Flanked by DIG Abdul Gani Mir, the IGP said that the commander was involved in master minding Qamarwari attack in which three militants and a cop were killed.  “He had also sent militants which were killed at Maloora in the out skirts of Srinagar”. The JeM chief, he said, was also responsible for an attack in Pattan last year.“He was responsible for attack on the residence of SP Sopore on December 5 and was also actively perusing the regrouping of Jaish militants in Tarzoo area of Sopore in North Kashmir.”The police claimed that the slain commander was active in Sopore, Rafiabad and Zainageer areas. “He had of late shifted to Srinagar.”The firing along the Dal Banks created tension on the otherwise busy Foreshore Road and adjacent areas.Meanwhile, a police spokesman here said 50 Kg of explosive material and 10 Mtr safety fuse and 06 detonators were recovered from medical shop at Ladhoo Pampore in South Kashmir’s Pulwama district.The spokesman said that police received information about concealment of explosive material in a medical shop at Ladhoo.“Acting on the tip off Police with assistance of 50RR and 110 Bn CRPF rushed towards the suspected shop and during search one bag full of explosive about 50 Kg, 10 Mtr safety fuse and 06 detonators were recovered from the shop.”After questioning the shopkeeper –Javeed Ahmad Khanday son of Jalal Din of Ladhoo Pampore, spokesman said that he admitted that the explosive and detonators belonged to LeT outfit and was meant for subversive activities. “The shopkeeper admitted that the material was kept in his custody by Bilal Ahmad Bhat, Firdous Ahmad Khanday and Fayaz Ahmad Shah.”Police has arrested all four accused and registered an FIR No. 32/2011 U/S 05 Explosive Act.